Merriweather District
Howard Hughes Corporation, 2020
The Merriweather District is a vibrant mixed-use community on 68 acres in Columbia, Maryland, adjacent to the famed Merriweather Post Pavilion, consistently ranked one of the best outdoor amphitheaters in the country. This multi-phased district consists of walkable retail promenades intermingled with high-end residential construction, 2 million SF of Class A office space, 200,000 SF of street retail and an active public plaza, aptly named Color Burst Park, that acts as the district’s center for activities including concerts, outdoor dining, ice skating, and more.
We were enlisted to create and implement the wayfinding and identity signage for the district. Our goal was to keep the signage on-brand, not only visually but also in spirit, by building upon the guiding principle & rallying cry of the new district — Grow Boldly, initially inspired by the region's visionary founder, James Rouse.
Environments
District Wayfinding
Signage Design
Documentation
Implementation
Sculpture-like project identity signs, inspired by the form of the Merriweather logo, add an iconic gesture to the site.
By mimicking the dynamic center void of the Merriweather logo, the sign also reveals the surrounding environment as you walk past.
A more horizontal project identity sign takes on a different form with vertical slats, but continues the yellow on yellow color scheme. The seamless letterforms also glow at dusk.
Pedestrian directional signs also take on the “Perspective window” concept, while sprinkling the yellow brand color throughout the district.
Photograpy
Patrick Ross Photography
Collaborators
JP2 Architects
Ad Vice Studios
Awards & Recognition
SEGD Merit Award, Wayfinding, 2022
NAIOP MD: Best Mixed-Use Project, 2022
Urban Land Institute WaveMaker Award, 2022
2022 CREW DC Project Excellence Award
ENR 2022 MidAtlantic Best Projects, Renovation/Restoration Winner
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