The new, state-of-the-art travel hub for Kansas City creates a travel experience that is welcoming and comfortable to all. The front door to a community, the terminal draws on global best practices to exceed varying user needs and expectations. We were thrilled to have been engaged by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) to develop the wayfinding strategy and design, through to the implementation with the support of a local MBE-certified firm HJM Architects.
SOM designed, planned, and engineered the new terminal with design-builder Clark | Weitz | Clarkson (CWC) with inclusive and accessible design philosophy at its core. All desks and service counters are set at accessible heights, a ‘quiet room’ lets us take a moment, and a ‘sensory room’ provides opportunities for play. The Kansas City Air Travel Experience Simulator enables passengers who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with air travel to “test run” their journey before leaving home.
For Entro, inclusivity was the guiding principle. We embraced the challenge of going above and beyond current accessibility standards to help travelers of all ages and abilities navigate the space.
Wayfinding is unique in the built environment as it speaks directly to people, setting the tone and giving the building its voice. It provides a consistent and common thread throughout the entire facility. We were in a unique position to collaborate with consultant teams of various disciplines, working on different parts of the airport to finesse placement and sizing for various design elements beyond signage.
Wayfinding signage provides a consistent and common thread throughout the entire facility. We were in a unique position to collaborate with design and engineering teams working on different parts of the airport to finesse placement and sizing for various design elements beyond signage.
Simplicity also guides the program’s aesthetic and inclusivity. The wayfinding program is at one with the architecture, following the lines and rhythms of the building, picking up on the expressive architectural column details, and integrating with the airport’s environment.
Signs supplement the intuitive architectural layout using simple, easy-to understand messages, nomenclature and pictograms. The foreground and background contrast; font sizes and style; and strategic placements, were thoroughly researched, vetted and tested to ensure succinct presentation of information that takes into consideration accessible elements such as optimal legibility and viewing distance.
