The Northwest Design Review Board was largely supportive of the revised, simpler design for the Ballard Washington Federal Savings Building presented to them April 12.

Gone is the slanting roof from the designs presented Oct. 12 for the building located at 2020 N.W. Market St., creating a structure that fits better in the context of the surrounding buildings, according to the board.

One of the concerns from the Oct. 12 meeting was that the slanted roof, meant as a tribute to the roof of the Ballard Library, would take away from the distinctiveness of the neighboring Carnegie's building.

The developers of the property also improved on the pedestrian walkway that connects Market Street and Northwest 56th Street to the west of the Washington Federal Savings building.

Windows have been added to the wall that faces the walkway as well as additional aesthetic improvements, though no agreement with Carnegie's, on whose property the walkway sits, has been reached for a canopy.

The board's major concern with the design proposed April 12 is the composition of the south and west sides of the building.

Both sides feature large brick facades. But, those facades are surrounded by corrugated metal. It is the metal that meets at the southwest corner of the building.

According to the board, the brick facades would be stronger if they met at the corner instead of the metal, which would present a more unified architectural concept.

If the developers of the property follow the board's suggestion of bringing the brick facades together at the corner, it is likely the project will move forward to obtaining a Master Use Permit. Otherwise, there will likely be another design review meeting for the project.

Washington Federal Savings will continue to be housed in the new building, which features the addition of drive-through tellers in the parking lot to the north of the building.

For more detail on the project's design, view the April 12 proposal with the link on the right.