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5th and Bell

image by CollinsWoerman Architects

Facts

• Project Name: 5th and Bell
• Year Built: 2004
• Address: 2301 5th Avenue North
• Designer: CollinsWoerman Architects
• Developer: ORIX Touchstone
• Design Review Board: Downtown
• Design Guidelines Applied: Design Review Guidelines for Downtown Development
• Size: 240,000 sq ft
• Zoned: DMR/C (Downtown Mixed Use Residential)

Design Guidelines Met
The Downtown Design Review Board determined the following Design Review Guidelines for Downtown Development were the most important for the designers to address:

Provide Adequate Lighting
(Guideline D-5)

A series of custom-designed lighting fixtures helps provide pedestrian safety and differentiates the two corner buildings from the central entry building. In addition to security, the distinct fixtures provide added visual interest. 

Provide Usable and Inviting Open Space
(Guideline D-1)

The rooftop terrace on level four provides surrounding  urban and territorial views and creates a building-wide amenity. Oriented toward the morning sun, the terrace provides opportunities for special landscaping, seating, and paving choices.

Promote Pedestrian Interaction
(Guideline C-1)

Retail uses are emphasized along 5th Avenue by providing ample opportunities for signage, using clear glazing into storefronts and recessing storefronts at the block corner for sidewalk seating opportunities. Sidewalk paving patterns integrate with the buildings columns and bay spacing. 

Respond to the Neighborhood Context
(Guideline B-1)

5th and Bell appears from the street to be three seperate buildings -- the avriety of appearance is achieved by using different exterior materials (metal panel and multiple colors of brick) to emphasize the building's relationship with its various neighborhood contexts. One "building" at the corner of 5th and Bell uses a sympathetic ared brick coloring to relate to the historical apartment building across the alley on Bell Street. Another, at the other corner on Battery Street, relates to the adjacent historical fire station through a lighter brick color with darker accents. The third "building", containing the building's main entrance, is represented by the modern, metal panel infill between the two strong masonry corner buildings.

Reinforce Building Entries
(Guideline C-4)

The main building entry from 5th Avenue features custom paving along with a distinctive translucent canopy that provides a clear sense of the building entry. Stainless steel stem letters clearly identify the building name. Unique custom lighting fixtures attractively illuminate the entry as well as provide a measure of safety.

Design Facades of Many Scales
(Guideline C-2)

The massing at 5th and Bell is broken down into a variety of scales with the use of different exterior materials. The base of the building uses the fine grain of brick to create a pedestrian scale, while the upper profile uses metal paneling and is much larger in scale.