PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Conceived as a vertical campus, this project brings the entirety of the U.S. DOT Volpe Center under one roof. SOM’s signage and wayfinding strategy makes the building easy to navigate, while also reflecting the institution’s identity.

As the U.S. DOT’s primary research division, the center’s work encompasses all forms of transit, from land to air to sea. SOM developed a full alphabet to visually express transit in motion—abstractly emphasizing the movement of a plane, train, or car. The letters are styled to echo across the walls, as if traveling through space. Labels for the departments and amenities throughout the building stretch horizontally, like a train or car whizzing by, while numbers in the stairwells stretch vertically, mirroring the direction of staff circulating between floors. Inside, all the pulled type was hand-painted, resembling the craftsmanship of a pinstriped car.

The approach to the alphabet and numerical characters was replicated within the workspaces inside. A series of images from the U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s archive add color to the office floors. To create that same sense of motion, a group of pixels in each image was isolated and pulled across the walls to create a mural.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Entry Type: Single Entry

Channel: Immersive

Primary Role of the Designer: Unknown (NA) / Other (if other, please explain)

Client Relationship: Unknown (NA) / Other (if other, please explain) Single contract with client for agreed upon fee

Intention of the Project: Unknown (NA) / Other (if other, please explain) Design of a new headquarters building

Development Budget: Confidential / Not available

Production/Execution Budget: Confidential / Not Available

Source of Funding: Client

Typefaces: Din

Paper:

Materials: Paint, Enamel, CNC Routed Metal, Custom Wallcovering

CREDIT INFORMATION

Creative Director:

Art Director:

Designers: Kacey Bills, Danielle Burton, Hsin-Yu Chen, Chris Cooper, Lonny Israel, Dan Maxfield, Nour Mourad, Sherry XuanYang,

Researchers:

Developers:

Copywriter:

Illustrator:

Photographer: Dave Burk

Printer:

Producer:

Other Credits:

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