OMC Study Group MEETING 3: NOTES Section 1: Building Design Page 2 Section 2: Site Layout Page 9 Section 3: Summary Page 16
Section 1 Building Design Page 2 of 16
General Comments during Building Design Discussion: QUESTIONS: What requirements does a data center user have for windows? Can different height levels be displayed in the council chambers? PREFERENCES: Height requirements are very important. o A data center 16-20 tall is preferable. o Make sure it is clear that the max height of a building includes mechanical equipment as it typically adds nearly 4 of height. A residential style building is desirable (mansion style or townhome). Building color and style similar with existing elementary school should be a consideration. Large windows or metal surfaces causing light reflection is a major concern. Large windows are not desired. Brick and textured material are desired Smooth, plain and large panels/material is not desired. Breaks in building layout desired. Etching quality design into materials desired. An institutional looking building, with large concrete colored/looking panels, is not desired. The color of a building is important. It should match surrounding single family homes and should not be plain. Additionally, the color of a building should not be bold. A consistent, quality, design should be incorporated around the entire building rather than just a small portion. Metal should be used as an accent material only it should not be used as a primary building material. A complex, busy, or ultra-modern design is not desired. A mechanical room should mimic primary building. Residents should have a hard time knowing where a mechanical room is located. Setback areas for parking lots and the building should be the same. Specific Comments during Building Design Discussion: 1. An institutional looking building is not desirable (concrete looking façade with really large panels). Color that blends in with surrounding homes is desirable. This general look is not desirable. Page 3 of 16
2. Wood is not desirable. Rounded edges are potentially acceptable. However, keeping strong edges, consistent with surrounding residential properties is preferred. Having large masses of windows is a concern, due to potential light reflection pollution. 3. Large metal panels are not desirable. A really modern theme/building style is not desired. Bold colors, that don t fit in with the neighborhood are not desired. 4. Breaks in buildings are desirable. This color scheme and building design are not preferable. 5. A pure rectangle building, with no break, design changes is not desirable. The height of this building is not desirable. This building is not preferable. Page 4 of 16
6. Residential looking building style is desired. Residential provides a softer look. Using a pitch roof to hide the view of a flat roof is desired. A town home style façade would also be desirable. A residential look fits in best with surrounding properties. Massive pitched roofs and large windows are not desired. 7. A more residential feel is desirable. The height of this example is not desirable. This style of building may fit, as it is commonly a buffer between residential and business type uses. 8. There is concern only a small portion of a building will look nice. Consistency, as far as design quality, on all sides of a building is desired. This building is taller than desirable. 9. This building is too plain, it looks industrial. Etching into precast panels is desirable (compared to no etching at all). Page 5 of 16
10. A building that is broken up is more desirable (in comparison to a non-broken up building). 11. No specific comments from the group on this image. 12. Trees located on perimeter and near building is desirable. This building is taller than desirable. 13. Not a desirable look for mechanical (metal). Page 6 of 16
14. Not a desirable look for mechanical (fence) 15. No comments. 16. Brick look is desirable. Height of wall is a concern. Sound attenuation due to brick is a concern. Wall should match primary building. Page 7 of 16
17. This is a detached generator/mechanical room example. A detached mechanical room that matches the look and feel of primary building, and includes a roof is desired (if a detached mechanical room was used). A detached mechanical room may be acceptable, if done correctly. 18. An attached enclosed mechanical room that matches, or looks identical to the primary building, is preferred. 19. Images depict precast wall panels. Discussion focused on precast wall panels. Breaks in wall panels, brick pattern and etching are all desired over large smooth plain panels. Metal should only be used as an accent not a primary material. Very complex, busy, architecture as displayed on the bottom right is not desirable. Page 8 of 16
Section 2 Site Layout Page 9 of 16
General Comments during Site Layout Discussion: QUESTIONS: What is the County s willingness for additional access points to the OMC site? Does a data center cooling system cause pollution? What is the minimum square feet the City thinks is needed for a data center user? What is the preferred style of design for a data center user? What are the photometrics for City hall today? Are the concepts the OMC study group came up with realistic to the market? Is underground parking an option? PREFERENCES: Height requirements are very important. A building 200,000 square feet in size, or greater, is not desired. Building setbacks should be as large as possible. An access road, wrapping the perimeter of a proposed data center, should be as narrow as possible. Parking lot and building lights are a concern. It is important to the OMC study group mitigate light pollution on adjacent properties. A donut style site layout, or something similar, is desirable (in comparison to a rectangle). Multiple buildings, versus one large building, is desirable. o Shared parking and mechanical facilities should be a consideration. o Locating two buildings in a fashion that will shield parking and mechanical areas, from surrounding property owners is desired. Both perimeter and building screening is important. Access and traffic is an issue, as it will have an effect on adjacent property owners. A massive, simple and rectangle design with no breaks or changes is not desired. Site Layout Discussion, Draft Layouts created by OMC Study Group: 1. Page 10 of 16
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Section 3 Staff Notes Page 15 of 16
Staff Comments: Moving forward, Staff will be utilizing input from this OMC Study Group meeting #3 to put together new site layout concept maps. In summary, general guiding principles have been developed by the OMC Study Group including, but not limited to, the following: [if the Subject Property were developed for a data center] Articulated building façade. Any proposed structure should include variations, architecture, physical breaks, textured finish and quality design visible from ground level. The look of a building should not be industrial, ultra-modern, institutional, or include massing of windows or metal. Mechanical units should be screened with walls looking similar or identical to the primary building. The height of any proposed building should not be greater than the height of nearby single family homes, from ground level; and, shall include mechanical units. An articulated building layout. Any proposed structure should contain variations or breaks in the perimeter. The proposed building should not be single massive rectangular shaped building with a simple, smooth, edge. The proposed structure should enclose and or physically shield mechanical units from surrounding properties. Any proposed site layout should minimize light pollution and traffic impacts on surrounding property owners. Screening efforts should be emphasized both on the perimeter of the property and adjacent to proposed structure. Building, parking lot and mechanical room setbacks should be the same. Residential feel. Complementing surrounding residential structures, from both a building design and site layout perspective, is critical to the OMC study group. Page 16 of 16