Attachment 2
Architectural Design Approach & DRC Recommendations
The new Public Saf
ety Building will be an important facility for the people of Mountain View as well as the urban fabric of the broader Downtown. Its design should also be emblemaƟc of its civic mission, urban context, and City values, as follows:
Civic Mission: The design mus t reflect the mission of the public safety departments it houses to convey trust, responsibility, and a sense of permanence. The architecture should reflect this with a combinaƟon of modern design elements that are based on Ɵmeless design principles of paƩerns, proporƟon, and balance.
Urban Con text: The building must address the urban context of downtown ‐ both the building and exterior spaces should complement surrounding buildings and streetscape design while addressing updated community goals for an inviƟng pedestrian realm.
City Values: The building should reflect the City’s values, including sustainability, transparency, and service to the c ommunity in a financially responsible manner .
Figure 1 – Project Context
Figure 2 – Neighboring Buildings
599 Castro Street 650 Castro Street
Mountain View City Hall Mountain View Library 970 W. Dana Street 899 W. Evelyn Ave
Façade Study:
The design team studied the massing, modularity, and form of neighboring buildings (with an emphasis on the exisƟng civic buildings) throughout downtown Mountain View and then interpreted these into expressions intended to complement exisƟng civic buildings while also embracing a contemporary aestheƟc. The rhythm and scale of the proposed building design concepts are intended to complement precedent buildings, as shown in the façade studies in Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 3 – City Hall Façade Study
Figure 4 – City Library Façade Study
DRC Comments on Preliminary Architectural Concept OpƟons:
The design team created both a recommended design opƟon as well as an alternaƟve for the DRC to review and comment on. Each of these takes a different approach to the exisƟng context, as shown in the below elevaƟons.
Figure 5 – Recommended Option to DRC
The recommended option adopted a more horizontal orientation and modulated the façade with major and minor columns which are more prominent at the first floor, more widely spaced at the second, and vanish at the third floor, increasing transparency at each higher level for visual interest and to mitigate the perceived height of the building. This option echoes the traditional base/middle/top in a contemporary expression, and also provides greater solidity at street level.
Figure 6 – Alternate Option to DRC
The alternate concept vertically breaks the long elevations and introduces extruded two‐story breaks in the façade with
additional glazing and contrasting materials. This approach, while still modern, bears a closer resemblance to the more traditional downtown buildings as well as the City library.
The DRC prefers the recommended exterior design, but also provided feedback on the alternate which may be considered if the alternate is carried forward further.
Corner Plaza OpƟons – The DRC reviewed materials included two plaza alternaƟves – the first differenƟates the plaza from the rest of the site, with a series of staggered linear planters and built‐ in seaƟng creaƟng a more porous interface with the streetscapes. The alternaƟve is designed to complement the overall site concept with curving planters forming the perimeter of an outdoor plaza, with openings from both Villa and Franklin St. Each design balances objecƟves for streetscape landscaping, building protecƟon, and plaza use for press conferences, gatherings, etc.
The DRC liked aspects of each of the plaza opƟons and recommended that staff explore how to incorporate both the recƟlinear elements of the first opƟon with the curvilinear aspects of the second.
Figure 6 – Recommended Plaza Option to DRC
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Figure 7 – Alternate Plaza Option to DRC
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