Page 32 - State College, PA Design Guidelines

06.28.2018 •

DESIGNING IN CONSIDERING CONTEXT
CONTEXT
A fundamental principle of the design guidelines is that improvement
HISTORIC DISTRICT
projects should be planned to be compatible with their context. In a
historic district, that context typically remains strongly anchored by
traditional development patterns, historic buildings, landscapes and other
early structures. As shown in the diagram to the left, a proposed new
main building, addition to a contributing main building or demolition of a
contributing main building in a historic district should consider the context
of the historic district, the block and the adjacent historic structure. In
addition to the context shown to the left, context also considers the factors
Official HARB Boundary
Contributing Parcels ¯ described below.
0 0.2 0.4 Miles
SURROUNDING CONTEXT/ Examples of features that may be used
BLOCK to define physical character:
Site Design
Site design elements relate to » Lot coverage and open space
the arrangement of buildings and percentage
landscapes on individual properties. » Building setbacks
They include patterns of building » Fences and site walls
setbacks, the percentage of » » Building orientation
Drives and curb-cuts
landscape and open space.

Building Mass and Scale
When buildings have similar » Building height
mass and scale characteristics, » Building form
the neighborhood is defined by a » Roof form
consistent context. Where mass » Variations in wall planes
and scale characteristics vary, a » Relationship of building floor area
ADJACENT PROPERTIES neighborhood may be defined by a to lot size
feeling of design diversity.

Building Design

The design characteristics » Building materials
of typical existing buildings » Ratio of windows to solid wall areas
Official HARB Boundary helps define rhythms that may » » Roof lines
Porches
¯ contribute significantly to the » Entry location
Contributing Parcels character of a neighborhood.

0 0.2 0.4 Miles

26 STATE COLLEGE, PA • HERITAGE STATE COLLEGE DESIGN GUIDELINES

Official HARB Boundary

¯

Contributing Parcels

0 0.2 0.4 Miles