Design Review Board signs off on Portman Residential's Brookside Village north facade and venting plan

The Design Review Board unanimously approved revisions to the north facade of Portman Residential's Brookside Village multifamily building and accepted the applicant's proposed venting strategy, which packs dryer, mechanical intake and bathroom/kitchen exhaust behind color-matched composite vent units aligned with the fenestration pattern.

Brandon Robinson of SKI Architects presented changes intended to reduce the perceived mass of a long brick elevation by repeating a three-bay module and inserting darker recessed hyphens and metal panel at the top floor. "We pulled the townhome language into that larger building to break it up a little bit," Robinson said, describing a mix of brick, darker accent brick and metal panel to provide rhythm along Old Milton Parkway.

Board members praised the reduced scale and asked technical questions about the vent product and locations. The architect said the composite vent units are dyed during manufacture to match the adjacent material, and that the units include a plenum to receive multiple ducts so dryer exhaust, mechanical intake and kitchen/bath exhaust can be consolidated behind a single facade element.

A motion to approve the north facade elevation, materials and the proposed venting solution passed 6-0.

Next steps: the applicant will proceed with final construction documentation and coordinate necessary building-permit submittals. Staff noted that retail facades were not affected by this approval and that typical building inspections and permit reviews will continue as required.