Husky Pride at UW’s Alumni Commons

We’ve already introduced you to the graphics program in the UW’s new Alumni Commons building. Now that it has been open for a little more than a month, we want to give you a more in-depth tour of the new space.

The goal of the Commons is to celebrate “Husky Pride”—the pride felt by all those who have been involved with the University since it was founded in 1861. “Each aspect of the program speaks to something the University values, from the members of its community to the philosophies that drive its progress to the environment in which it exists,” says designer Faith Berry.

A backlit glowing gold wall in the common area features routed typographic statements of values and philosophies that the University has built upon.  A People Wall, filled with photographs and quotes of the UW community, is the focal point of the conference room. This wall highlights the personal connections people have with the University, and the impact the school has had on their lives.

To bring a piece of the surrounding environment inside, a large graphic of Mount Rainier fills a wall at the end of a long corridor, mimicking the iconic view of the mountain that’s visible from the UW quad. From afar, the graphic simply looks like a purple half-tone image of the iconic mountain. But up close, it’s clear that the image is actually composed of a series of textural W’s in UW’s brand mark.

The graphics program also includes a timeline wall, which is still in development. This wall serves as a record of specific successes in UW’s history. Its non-linear nature allows it to be easily updated to highlight future achievements.

As the University of Washington celebrates its sesquicentennial this year, the new Alumni Commons building serves as an elegant and energetic tribute to the accomplishments of the UW’s past 150 years and looks proudly toward its future.

Images taken by Ben Benschenider (click an image to view larger). 

UW Baseball Team Building: Go Purple. Be Gold.

The new Husky Ballpark Team Building at the University of Washington will be the home off the field for UW Baseball. A design-build project with SRG Partnership and Bayley Construction, the building will feature a simple, but impactful, graphics program that focuses on the fundamentals of baseball.

The motto of the UW Athletics Program is “Go Purple. Be Gold.” Drawing from this, we created what designer Faith Berry calls a “back-to-basics” graphics program. “The idea is to take a classic approach to iconize the baseball program and focus on the fundamental things that make the club great,” she says.

When people enter the lobby of the Team Building, they’re surrounded by golden, towering graphics that span two floors, immortalizing the program’s success. At eye level, life-sized images characterize the mechanics of the game, like the delivery of a pitch or a power swing.

In a nod to the program’s history, the meeting room, where alumni and potential donors will view games, features a large image of an early 1900s pitching staff warming up before a game. A Legacy Panel overlays the image, highlighting memorable games, records set, and players who’ve made it to the big leagues. This interchangeable panel system can be easily updated to include future successes.

In the locker room, inspirational quotes (provided by Head Coach Lindsay Meggs) line the purple drop soffit in the ceiling, and a series of motivational statements look toward the goal at the end of the season: a trip to the College World Series. Lockers are also personalized for each player and include a portrait image and a shot of them in action on the field.

These locker room graphics serve as a useful recruiting tool for the school. By highlighting the players, the team makes it clear that they treat them like professionals and they value each player’s contributions. The aspirational statements, which are integrated into the environment, reiterate to recruits that UW believes in the strength of its program and that it takes seriously the goal of getting to the College World Series.

The new Husky Ballpark Team Building is just one aspect of the university’s plan to energize Husky Baseball. The graphics in the space will connect players, coaches, and recruits with the history of the program and help inspire them on their path to a championship future.

Images: Renderings of the exterior, stairway, meeting room, and locker room graphics. Click on the images to view larger versions.

Built in 1916 as a cornerstone of the historic Liberal Arts Quadrangle, the University of Washington’s Savery Hall was in need of modern improvements. The renovation and restoration project focused on upgrades to building systems and classroom design while maintaining the building’s classic Gothic façade.

Studio SC developed an identity and wayfinding program that reflects the industrial character of the newly exposed interior structure and celebrates Savery Hall’s unique place in the University’s history. Our signage program pairs modern typography with historic industrial elements revealed by the renovation, creating a synergy of past and present.

Photos by Lara Swimmer & Studio SC