2019-40_Rock-Armor_DR-Narrative_08.20.2020Architecture Northwest P.A. 224 16th Avenue South Nampa, Idaho 83651
matt@arcnw.com Ph. 208-467-3377 Fax 208-467-4343
DATE: Monday August 20, 2020
TO: Community Development; Planning Department
33 E Broadway Avenue, Meridian, Idaho 83642
ATTENTION: Planning Staff
PROJECT: Rock & Armor Fitness Center
1649 E Pine Street
Meridian, Idaho 83642
REGARDING: Design Review – Narrative Letter
NARRATIVE: The proposed ‘Rock & Armor’ fitness and training center is to be located on
two adjacent lots (parcels: R6108100010 and R6108100020) at the
southeast corner of the intersection of Locust Grove road and Pine Avenue,
both of which are arterial roadways. There are no culturally significant
buildings or site anywhere in the immediate vicinity the applicant is aware of.
The proposed new building will sit entirely on the southwest corner of lot 1,
block 1 of the Nola Sub with the main building entrance located near the
center of the lot.
A pedestrian walkway will run along the entire length of the northern building
façade and outdoor training area to connect with the public way on the
western boundary along Locust Grove road. An existing landscape buffer
that is planted with trees and sod runs along both the northern and western
boundaries of the site between the site parking and existing public sidewalk.
Vehicular access to the site will be through a shared access driveway and a
20 ft shared access easement across the northern boundary of lot 2. The site
can also be accessed from N Nola rd to the east through a secondary
ingress / egress easement that runs along the southern boundary of lot 3 and
connects to a drive aisle along the eastern boundary of lot 2 that is flanked
by parking on both sides.
The proposed new building will face arterial roadways on two facades, the
West will face N Locust Grove Rd and the northern façade will face E Pine
Ave. While all faces will have architectural detailing, particular attention has
been paid to the west and north facades because of their high visibility. Being
positioned on a corner lot the proposed shares property boundaries on the
south with a trucking yard, and with a daycare on the east. The proposed
new building will have stucco and masonry in common with the daycare on
the east and pre-finished metal siding and roofing with the trucking company
on the south.
On the west façade there is symmetry and rhythm with materials, parapet
articulation, and pop-out and recesses in the wall face. The far east façade is
Architecture Northwest P.A. 224 16th Avenue South Nampa, Idaho 83651
matt@arcnw.com Ph. 208-467-3377 Fax 208-467-4343
all about symmetry with the bumped-out and raised stucco parapet walls
wrapping around the corner from the north and south faces which mirror
those on the western facade. Two large, glazed overhead doors are centrally
located and balanced in the center of the wall. The façade in between the
parapet walls are pre-finished metal siding with concealed fasteners.
On the northern façade, like the western façade, rhythm is created using
materials, articulation of the parapet height, and pop-out and recesses in the
wall faces. The stucco parapet walls that repeat along the northern and
southern facades in particular, each spaced 16 ft apart create rhythm. On the
northern more visible façade the top of these walls rise above the eave
height creating articulation at the roof line.
Along with the pushing and pulling articulation of the building face there are
(3) different colors of pre-finished metal siding and trim in (2) different siding
profiles, (2) different colors of stucco, and the CMU block selection to provide
ample variation in color and texture around the proposed building.
The scale of the proposed building is comparable to other buildings in the
immediate area. The proposed structure has two primary volumes, the PEMB
and a traditional “stick built” single story volume. The approach and main
entry into the building is at the intersect of the larger PEMB and this smaller
volume at the nw corner. It is intended that this entrance through the smaller
volume will be much more approachable and less overbearing.
The proposed building has two sections of roof, the main PEMB roof, and the
lower roof over the smaller building volume. The top of parapet height for the
main PEMB roof is 25 ft. the top of parapet height for the lower roof is 16 ft.
The lower roof is a flat roof surrounded by articulated parapets. The larger
PEMB roof is a straight single ridge gable roof. This roof is approximately
150 ft long running east to west. On the west end the roof is completely
covered by parapet walls. On the east end part of the gable is seen between
the raised parapets that wrap the corners from the north and south.
The PEMB roof from the south is mostly visible excepting where the raised
parapets wrap around from the east and west facades. roof articulation
however does occur on the southern façade where the roof slope extends at
the eaves between the repeating stucco wall bump-outs creating
approximately 30’’ deep dropped soffits over the high windows along the
southern façade.
The northern façade is treated much the same excepting that the bumped-
out stucco walls are extended vertically creating parapet conditions. This
provides that over 27% of the 150 ft PEMB roofline is broken by parapet
walls. As on the southern façade the sloping roof extends between the
parapet walls creating the dropped soffits. These dropped soffits provide a
sense of dimensionality and depth by casting deep shadows.
Facade modulations occur in multiple locations on each face of the building.
These are primarily accomplished by projecting wall faces anywhere
between 6 in. to 1 ft. 8 in. The repeating stucco walls that occur on the north
and south facades and wrap the corners onto the east façade all bump out 6
in. On the single story volume at the proposed NW corner of the building
there are walls that protrude 6 in. in one area and 12 in. in another with
Architecture Northwest P.A. 224 16th Avenue South Nampa, Idaho 83651
matt@arcnw.com Ph. 208-467-3377 Fax 208-467-4343
varying materials in each. The west façade has the most modulation with
protrusions between 6 in. out to 1 ft. 8 in. and 3-different materials and
textures across the facade.
At all but one entrance or exit from the building there is a canopy to not only
provide shelter for clientele, but also serve as an identifier for the building’s
entrances and exits and enhance the pedestrian scale. These canopies have
the darkest color on the building in order to provide contrast and stand out.
The proposed building fenestration does comply with the required 30%
minimum by utilizing the applicable industrial district limit of 30 ft. around the
building entrance. To increase the amount of building fenestration two of the
secondary entrance/exit doors were changed to full-lite doors on the north
façade.
The applicant and owner would thus contest that a good faith effort has been
made to comply with all of the requirements of the architectural standards
manual for a commercial building even though it is to be located in an
industrial district. During the Planning and Zoning public hearing for the CUP
more than one of the commissioners commented on the appropriateness of
the building’s design as a good combination of commercial and industrial.
The applicant respectfully requests approval the proposed designs for the
new Rock and Armor Fitness facility as presented. Should you have
additional questions or need anything further in consideration of this
application please feel free to contact the applicant at any time.
Thank you.
Kindest regards,
Matt Garner
Architectural Associate