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Design Review Board

Level 1: Minor alteration of an existing building/structure

9-B-19-DT

Removing the existing windows, EIFS, and louvers of two rooms on the southeast corner of the second floor, adding new storefront windows, and painting a portion of the south and east second floor wall. A new window system will be installed in the two rooms being remodeled. The window system will have more glass area and will be constructed of aluminum. The mullion profiles will be as presented in the attachments.

Location
525 Henley St.
Applicant Request
Removing the existing windows, EIFS, and louvers of two rooms on the southeast corner of the second floor, adding new storefront windows, and painting a portion of the south and east second floor wall. A new window system will be installed in the two rooms being remodeled. The window system will have more glass area and will be constructed of aluminum. The mullion profiles will be as presented in the attachments.
Staff Comments
The project is the first phase of a comprehensive renovation of the Holiday Inn, which will include converting the hotel to a Marriott. This proposal is for only a small portion of the 2nd story in southeast corner of the building and is for the remodel of two rooms as model rooms. When they decide to renovate the entire building, a separate application will be submitted for consideration.

Applicable guidelines

Section 1.B.1 (BUILDING MASS, SCALE AND FORM)
Building form should be consistent with the character of downtown as an urban setting and should reinforce the pedestrian activity at the street level. Creating pedestrian-scale buildings, especially at street level, can reduce the perceived mass of buildings. Historically, building technology limited height and subsequently created pedestrian-scaled buildings typically less than 10 stories. Building technology no longer limits the height of buildings and there are no height limitations imposed by the zoning ordinance for downtown Knoxville. However, there is still a need for buildings that respond to pedestrians. The use of 'human-scale' design elements is necessary to accomplish this. Human-scale design elements are details and shapes that are sized to be proportional to the human body, such as, upper story setbacks, covered entries, and window size and placement.
GUIDELINES:
1a. Maintain a pedestrian-scaled environment from block to block.
1c. Use building materials, cornice lines, signs, and awnings of a human scale in order to reduce the

mass of buildings as experienced at the street level.
1d. Divide larger buildings into 'modules' that are similar in scale to traditional downtown buildings. Buildings should be designed with a recognizable base, middle, and top on all exposed elevations. 1e. Avoid blank walls along street-facing elevations.

Section 1.B.3. (BUILDING MATERIALS)
New building materials should relate to the scale, durability, color, and texture of the predominate building materials in the area.
GUIDELINES:
3a. Use complimentary materials and elements, especially next to historic buildings.

Section 1.B.4. (ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER)
Buildings should be visually interesting to invite exploration by pedestrians. A building should express human scale through materials and forms that were seen traditionally. This is important because buildings are experienced at close proximity by the pedestrian.
GUIDELINES:
4b. Enhance pedestrian interest in commercial and office buildings by creating a largely transparent and consistent rhythm of entrances and windows.
4d. Differentiate the architectural features of ground floors from upper floors with traditional considerations such as show-windows, transoms, friezes, and sign boards.
4e. Design top floors to enhance the skyline of the block through cornices and details that are harmonious with adjacent architecture.
Applicant

Greer / McCarty Holsaple McCarty

Planning Staff
Mike Reynolds
Phone: 865-215-3827
Email: mike.reynolds@knoxplanning.org
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