HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-06-30 Special MinutesPresent:
Mayor Mayor John W. Rants
Tukwila City Council Joe Duffle
Joan Hernandez
Dennis Robertson
Steve Mullet, President
Allan Ekberg
Joyce Craft
Dorothy De Rodas
Officials
Special Meeting Notes
June 30, 1994
Tukwila Council Chambers
John McFarland
Don Williams
Randy Berg
Lynn DeVoir
Mayor Rants called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Don Williams and Randy Berg
explained the process and the criteria by which the presenters should be judged. Don said
each team had one half hour to present their design, and that the site and the number of
spaces for each function within the center have already been decided on for purposes of this
screening process. He said the Council should be looking for a team of architects; that the
specific designs could be modified or changed, and it was most important that the City be
able to work easily with the architects to achieve the best design possible.
Randy Berg went through the list of criteria which the specific presentations should meet.
The City Council had a copy of the questions that should be answered by the presentations.
The first firm to present was ARC Architects. Dave Rutherford began by explaining the
team had a picnic at the site to get a feeling for it. Their strongest impressions were of the
river view and Mt. Rainier. The Duwamish River, he said, showed power; the truck traffic
on 42nd presented a barrier; the south exposure offered the sun. The building design, he
said, made the center a focus point. It was as knuckles on a fist, with the main part of the
center dominating. Zones were separate for arrivals, senior citizens, transitions, and the
main center.
Colie Hough Beck explained that the parking area's 350 spaces were a challenge, but that
their team had made landscaping the dominant element there. There will be an internal
screening of cars, though not so much that safety is an issue. She showed raised gardens
outside the senior center, and an outdoor barbecue center. The picnic area was an open
area near the river. A terrace outside the building's center would accommodate large or
small gatherings.
Stan Lokting talked about the architectural form, with an important site, a civic center
building, and the need to tie together the civic, historical and linking needs of commercial
and residential city parts. He pointed out the rotunda in the center for the civic connotation;
the sloped roofs reminiscent of the barns and farmhouses in Tukwila's history; and the
trellises and arbors on the edge of the terraces showing the city's linkages.
The presenters ended by saying how excited they were by the opportunity, and expressed
their enthusiasm for the project.
The second firm to present was Mithun. Roger Williams and Jim Bodoia made the
presentation jointly.
Roger Williams talked about the firm's history. One of the buildings they designed was City
Hall. They talked about the community center as being a civic center with a sense of place,
representing commercial density, residential neighborhoods, and Tukwila history. He said
they thought the site was the most important design aspect; that it was challenging and
unique in its location. They saw it as a transitional building between the commercial and
residential areas. The center, they said, should be the heart of the city, a gathering place
that accommodated a variety of people and functions.
The scale of their planned buildings was low, especially where people first entered. The
shape of the pitched roofs was meant to reflect the residential nature of the neighborhood
where the center is located. The interface areas are low scale also. Their center does not
dominate the landscape, but fits into what's already there. It emphasized the residential
areas and the agricultural history of the area.
The parking lot was built as an orchard, again referencing the city's past as a farming
community. The building is oriented to the south to take advantage of the sun; it has a
funnelling entrance; and the consultants made sure there was a potential for growth on the
site. Their building is on two long axis.
Mithun's proposal costs about $95 /square foot for a 49,500 foot building. Phase I is
estimated to cost $5.1 million and $40,000 off site improvements.
In summary, the consultants said they tried to respond to the natural setting, to engage the
river, take advantage of the quality of light in their proposal and be sensitive about the
landscaping. Their focus was on the citizenry that would use the site, though maintenance
and staffing were also considered.
-LV
The third firm to make their presentation was a joint venture between Robert Wagner and
the Miller -Hull Partnership. Robert Wagner gave the presentation. He stated their goals
were to use the open space at the site, build something the City could be proud of, and
provide a variety of outdoor spaces for the community at the site. They wanted to open the
river to all users; have the center be a visual identification site for the city; understand the
site; and fit in with the adjoining residential neighborhood. They had determined to build
the utilities first before the building went in.
From the 42nd Avenue bridge they wanted to have a view of the ball fields to give the
feeling of open space. That would be the best and most viewed part of the site, and they
wanted to save that, so they sited the building to the east.
Their building concept was for a building open to the outside. For this they included a great
porch, which is covered. They also tried to be a good neighbor to the residents nearby by
shielding them from ball field activity at night.
Their goal for the central space in the building was to make it appear lively. To that end
they had an interior "street" that opened onto the great porch and onto the various rooms
for games, dance and child care. User groups were given their own areas such as gyms and
the senior center entrance.
Building cooling could be done mostly by ventilation. They planned two entrances so that
people wouldn't be so far from their cars in the dark or bad weather.
Costs were between $100- $110 per square foot.
The meeting was ended at 9:55.
Notes from L. Lauterbach