DR Design Standard Exception RequestMERIDIAN, IDAHO
PULLMAN, WASHINGTON
KENNEWICK, WASHINGTON
ONTARIO, OREGON
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON
DESIGN WEST
ARCHITECTS, P.A.
216 SW FIFTH AVENUE
MERIDIAN, IDAHO 83642
TEL. 208-888-1768
FAX. 208-955-6885
www.designwestpa.com
March 13, 2019
City of Meridian, Community Development Dept.
ATTN: Kevin Holmes, Associate City Planner
33 E. Broadway Ave., Suite 102
Meridian, Idaho 83642
Re: Design Review Design Standard Exception Request
Mr. Holmes,
We respectfully request an exemption to City of Meridian Architectural Standards, item 3.10 for the
following reason:
The north “activities” entrance to the school is centered between the two large volumes of the
school – the gymnasium to the east and the auditorium to the west. The design intent is to draw
attention to the activities entrance and to keep the balance of the north façade as non-descript as
possible, while still maintaining a cohesive design with the balance of the building. The gymnasium
and auditorium are intended to maintain a relationship with the form and aesthetics of other
portions of the building, proportionally adjusted and functionally appropriate (i.e. no windows and
varied color/pattern/texture structural block in lieu of applied metal finishes). This is a tenuous
balance, but one that we have found necessary on similar school projects to keep pedestrians,
especially visitors, away from service entrances and “exit only” doors.
Our belief is that while the large volume spaces along the north building elevation do not fully meet
the intent of 3.10, we have far exceeded 3.10 (and other items) at the activities entrances on this
same elevation through the use of various modulations: projections at columns and canopy support
beams, articulated wall planes, steps in building mass, varied building overhangs at canopies and
parapets, varied material finishes (smooth and textured block, smooth metal panels with reveals,
corrugated metal panels), stepped metal trim, varied colors, glazing, seating and building signage
(on the larger volume planes).
We are proposing to set the north wall plane of the Scene Shop portion of the building back 8” from
the wall plane of the Auditorium to comply with the modulation requirement at the northwest
corner of the building, as visible from the north-south collector.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Brandon Weholt
Project Architect
Attachments: Revised Partial Floor Plan, Activities Entrance Rendering
8" STEP IN
BUILDING
NORTHWEST CORNER OF BUILDING