We are pleased to announce five Graphis Silver Awards in the international Design 2023 competition for our environmental programs at the National Veterans Resource Center and Schine Student Center at Syracuse University, Covenant House New York, University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), and the Ingenium Centre. Combined, these programs encompass wayfinding, identification signage, exhibits, and donor recognition programs.
Syracuse University's National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) is a state-of-the-art facility that aims to advance the social, economic, and wellness concerns of US veterans and their families. Entro had the privilege of creating an exhibit and donor installations to recognize the school’s history and contributors, as well as an accessible signage and wayfinding program. Veterans are a diverse group, ranging widely in age, ethnicity, and ability. Many have been injured during their service, both physically and psychologically, and so accessibility and the application of universal design principles was crucial to the success of the space. The wayfinding program looks beyond baseline accessibility requirements: braille and tactile lettering are included on ramp handrails as well as directional and identification signs to facilitate navigation and orientation. The Hall of Honor exhibit showcases key veterans and events that connect to the University. Touchable reproductions combine with narratives and tactile interpretive panels to bring historic personalities and events to life. Find out more about the project here.
For the newly transformed Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center at Syracuse University, Entro collaborated with architects Ashley McGraw Mackey Mitchell to ensure the improved space became the “living room of the campus,” a comfortable environment for students to gather, eat, study, and socialize. Prioritizing the principles of universal design and student-centred design, Entro developed the identification, donor recognition, and wayfinding signage. The vibrant, bold colours of the interior palette and wayfinding signage are playful and energetic, welcoming students and inspiring school spirit. Architecturally, the central atrium was opened to welcome more natural light – a feature that draws people in and supports intuitive wayfinding. This central hub features large-scale ceiling graphics, visible from every floor, that point the way to key destinations. Braille and tactile signs are adhered to the circular handrail and correspond with the ceiling directional signage. View the full project page.
In the midst of a global pandemic, Covenant House New York (CHNY) opened the doors of its new, purpose-built facility. Designed by FXCollaborative, the 80,000 square-foot 11-storey site provides food, shelter, and healthcare services to the City’s most vulnerable homeless, runaway, and exploited youth. The space is designed from the ground up to achieve the organization’s core mission: to provide an open and welcoming yet safe and secure environment; to celebrate community and never forget the individual; and to function in a way that is both easy to navigate yet flexible enough to allow for change. Entro designed a customized wayfinding and donor recognition program that aligns with these goals. We approached this project by looking to the organization's history and culture: the donor installation incorporates images of an iconic community-created mural by Katie Yamasaki which resided on the original building. Find out more about the project here.
Entro contributed to the recent lobby and entrance renovation at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Our interior and exterior signage and wayfinding program not only complement the renovated space, but also integrate with the architectural features of the building. The completed lobby renovation, by Gow Hastings Architects and Two Row Architect, introduces important Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, allowing them to permeate the fabric of the 40-year old brutalist building in downtown Toronto. The updated entryway on Bloor has enhanced wayfinding, improved accessibility and offers a new space for students and faculty to meet and collaborate. View the full project page.
The Ingenium Centre, located next to the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa, is a new facility, designed to protect and showcase Canada’s national science and technology collection of historical objects and documents from Canada’s three museums of science and innovation: the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the aforementioned Science and Technology Museum. Home to thousands of artifacts, the Ingenium Centre offers purpose-built storage for artifacts, a research institute, conservation laboratories, and much more. Entro worked closely with Diamond Schmitt Architects to develop a signage system that incorporates the colours of the Ingenium logo: green, red, and blue. Painted acrylic signs feature a vertical pattern that echoes the exterior of the building to create a sense of unity and cohesion throughout the building. Find out more about the project here.