Downtown Vancouver Design Guidelines
Vancouver, WA
Description
R+A worked with City of Vancouver to prepare the Vancouver Downtown Design Guidelines (VDDG), a comprehensive update to the city’s 1995 manual. Downtown Vancouver is a vibrant mix of residential, cultural, civic, retail, and entertainment spaces that together create a distinctive “messy vitality,” attracting housing and office growth, small businesses, jobs, and continuous urban activity. The VDDG will serve as the primary tool for city staff to review the design of proposed projects within the Downtown Plan Area. This updated manual provides clear direction to both developers and the public on the desired character, form, and quality of development in downtown Vancouver. Working in coordination with the Zoning Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, and other design review processes, the VDDG ensures a consistent, cohesive, and design-driven approach to shaping Vancouver’s urban core.
Client: City of Vancouver, WA
Timeframe: 2023–2025
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Highlights
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Provide a set of guidelines and standards that are easy to understand and administer.
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Ensure the compatibility of new development with the existing historic character of the downtown.
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Maintain quality design and materials.
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Ensure ground floors include interest-creating features that contribute to an active downtown environment.
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Ensure building designs complement each other and contribute to a cohesive sense of place.