5.3.4.3 Community Support Visual Zone D3

The community center area is adjacent to and directly to the south of the administrative/headquarters zone.  The community center at Fort Carson represents the main retail area or "town center” for the entire installation. Facilities and activities that are important to this part of the post are the library, commissary, main PX, theatre, bank, credit union, post office, bowling center, religious facilities, and many other important community support facilities.

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post exchange

5.3.4.3.1 Visual Character

5.3.4.3.1.1  Attitude

The existing attitude of the Community Support Visual Zone is that of a major retail center.  The area is dominated by big box facilities, large parking lots, and extensive vehicular circulation.

  • Vehicular.
  • Shopping.
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    chapel
    The use of exterior elements, size, form, mass, etc. are to express the use of the facility (form follows function).
5.3.4.3.1.2  Elements

The following is a list of elements that can be found in or are used extensively throughout this visual zone.

  • Entrance canopies.
  • Crosswalks.
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    family rediness center
    Large, windowless façades.
  • Loading docks.
  • Drive-through elements.
5.3.4.3.1.3  Materials

The materials used in this visual zone shall correlate with the Visual Theme that is set for the type of facility in question.  

Community Support Facility Materials

See Section 8 Building Design, Exterior Materials for the material colors that are to be used in this visual zone. 

Material types and colors for new facilities, renovations, and additions should coordinate or match those on adjacent facilities or on the existing facility being worked on.  Deviations need to be approved by DPW at the 35% design phase.

Where possible, material selection should be guided by the LEED™ rating system and by the requirements necessary to attain the relevant LEED™ credits.  See Appendix D and Appendix E.

5.3.4.3.2 Visual Analysis Map

ZoneD-3

5.3.4.3.3 Assets

5.3.4.3.3.1  Site Planning
  • Founders Plaza attempts to introduce a community center space/pedestrian space within the community facilities.
5.3.4.3.3.2  Buildings
  • Each community facility combines the common element of red brick with other materials and a singular approach to building shape, massing, scale, and roof treatment to provide a unique architectural statement.
5.3.4.3.3.3  Circulation
  • None.
5.3.4.3.3.4  Plant Materials
  • Limited street tree plantings act as buffers.
  • Mature deciduous and evergreen trees occur at isolated locations.
  • Parking areas near newer buildings have landscaped islands.
5.3.4.3.3.5  Site Elements
  • Exterior lighting fixtures are modern anodized aluminum type in some areas adjacent to newer facilities.
5.3.4.3.3.6  Force Protection
  • None.

5.3.4.3.4 Liabilities

5.3.4.3.4.1  Site Planning
  • Parking areas are unscreened and do not incorporate internal landscaped islands.
  • Unscreened service areas, mechanical equipment, utilities, and loading docks are unattractive.
  • Library parking is inadequate.  Currently, the parking for the library is across the street at the Post Headquarters, which is going to be removed for the construction of a new facility.
5.3.4.3.4.2  Buildings
  • Loading dock areas are unscreened and face adjacent roads and parking facilities.
  • Some large structures appear monotonous with no focal point.
  • The main building entrance to a facility is not always obvious.   The entrance to the pharmacy is one example.
5.3.4.3.4.3  Circulation
  • Pedestrian areas are not adequately marked or furnished.
  • A pedestrian circulation system from other areas of the installation to the community center is not obvious, continuous, or well implemented.
  • There is a lack of landscaped parking lot islands in the large expansive parking lots.
  • The vehicular circulation around the mini mall, bowling alley, and credit union is confusing and not well marked.
5.3.4.3.4.4  Plant Materials
  • Extensive use of unplanted gravel groundcover areas creates an uninviting, harsh environment.
  • Un-maintained grounds are unattractive.
5.3.4.3.4.5  Site Elements
  • Lack of appropriate signs at entries gives many buildings an ambiguous appearance.
  • Split rail fences have been used inappropriately for a community center.
  • Some signage has too much information for passing motorists to read effectively.
  • Trash dumpsters are not screened or properly located.
5.3.4.3.4.6  Force Protection
  • None.

5.3.4.3.5 Recommendations

5.3.4.3.5.1  Site Planning
  • None.
5.3.4.3.5.2  Buildings
  • New permanent facilities should continue to use brick as the primary exterior material.  Major secondary materials should be a reflection of the adjacent existing construction.
  • All additions should be a direct continuation of the existing facilities’ exterior treatment.
  • Main building entries must be visually reinforced.  This can most easily be accomplished by the introduction of pedestrian oriented site furnishings, accent landscaping, and overhead projections such as canopies.
5.3.4.3.5.3  Circulation
  • Parking areas must be screened from major roadways through the combined use of berms and plant materials.
  • The main roadways in the community center should be visually distinguishable in terms of hierarchy.  This should include street tree development, a coordinated system of street lighting, and site accessories.
  • Main circulation driveways within large parking areas must be visually screened through the use of planting and/or earth berms.
  • A comprehensive treatment of pedestrian paths, furnishings, and bicycle facilities must be included in the community center to promote pedestrian circulation and reduce the amount of vehicular circulation.
  • Street lighting near the community center facilities must be an extension of other related improvements that visually distinguish main roadways.  Light standards, spacing, and illumination levels will help define traffic flow and improve pedestrian security and surveillance.
  • Large deciduous trees are to be added in parking lot islands to break up expansive parking areas.  The trees and islands will soften the parking areas, provide shade, scale, and make the parking lot generally more attractive.
5.3.4.3.5.4  Plant Materials
  • Provide additional planting in parking lot islands and on the perimeter to screen large expansive parking lots.
5.3.4.3.5.5  Site Elements
  • A community center should contain small plazas and courtyards with benches and related site furnishings provided as amenities.  The development of these areas provides an overall visual variety and accommodates the relaxation and socialization encouraged in this intensely people orientated zone.
  • A coordinated directional signage system is crucial to the function, traffic safety, and appearance of the area.
  • Overhead utilities that run through the area should be relocated underground.
5.3.4.3.5.6  Force Protection
  • Force protection setbacks should be considered with all new projects in the area.

 

  
 

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