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Design Review Board

Level 1: Minor alteration of an existing building/structure

5-C-18-DT

Installation of metal screening around previously installed mechanical equipment on the northeast (left rear) corner of the building. There are two levels of mechanical in this location; HVAC units mounted to the deck of the parking structure and a 9' tall metal stand over the HVAC units that supports mechanical for the ground floor restaurant. The proposed aluminum screening will be 15'-1" tall and has 4" by 4" aluminum posts mounted the deck of the parking garage. The bottom half of the screen will have 4" wide horizontal aluminum panels and the top half has 2" wide horizontal aluminum panels. The screen will cover the entire Gay Street (west) side and 12'-10" of the north side of the mechanical area. The aluminum screen will have a black finish.

Location
312 S Gay St
Applicant Request
Installation of metal screening around previously installed mechanical equipment on the northeast (left rear) corner of the building. There are two levels of mechanical in this location; HVAC units mounted to the deck of the parking structure and a 9' tall metal stand over the HVAC units that supports mechanical for the ground floor restaurant. The proposed aluminum screening will be 15'-1" tall and has 4" by 4" aluminum posts mounted the deck of the parking garage. The bottom half of the screen will have 4" wide horizontal aluminum panels and the top half has 2" wide horizontal aluminum panels. The screen will cover the entire Gay Street (west) side and 12'-10" of the north side of the mechanical area. The aluminum screen will have a black finish.
Staff Comments
This proposal is a revision to two Certificate of Appropriate approvals; 8-A-14-DT and 8-B-15-DT. This property is within the Gay Street Commercial (National Register) Historic District so Section 1.C (Historic Resources) of the guidelines will apply.

In the August 2015 approval (8-B-15-DT) a raised mechnical platform was approved by the board in the same general location and height above the garage deck as the installed platform, however, the previous design platform was attached to the building and was much smaller. The existing mechanical stand was installed in 2016. In addition to the proposed aluminum screening, the mechanical area is located behind the elevator tower that will also act as a screen.

Applicable guidelines:

Section 1.B.7. (MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AND SERVICE UTILITIES)
Utilities can include telephone and electrical lines, ventilation systems, gas meters, air conditioners, fire protection, telecommunication and alarm systems. Adequate space for these utilities should be planned in a project from the outset and they should be designed such that their visual and noise impacts are minimized.

GUIDELINES:
7a. Minimize the visual impact of mechanical equipment through screens or recessed/low-profile equipment.
7b. Do not locate units on a primary facade.
Applicant

Century Partnership, LLC

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