environmental graphic design
“We do nothing
in isolation”
Sasaki Associates is one of the world’s leading interdisciplinary design firms and our clients include preeminent universities, private developers and cities across the United States and throughout the world. Our work touches every aspect of the built environment - architecture, planning and urban design, landscape architecture, eco-technologies/civil, interior design, strategic planning and graphic design.
At Sasaki, these disciplines are arrayed into studios that reflect the Urban, International, Campus and Sports markets we serve. Within each of these studios, designers step outside the bounds of their design specialty to collaborate on multi-perspective approaches to solving design problems. The landscape architecture and graphic design disciplines inform the work of the architecture and interior design disciplines, and vice versa; an urban design solution in one project might hold the key to the eco-technologies/civil approach in another. The fragile and finite nature of the Earth’s resources means that sustainability is both deeply integrated into our firms’ culture and shapes every decision we make, from employee benefits to building operations policies. We work at many scales ranging from 10,000 square-foot corporate interiors to 500,000 square-foot academic and athletic buildings to entire city-wide plans in places as distant and diverse as coastal California, urban New England and the technology corridors of northern India. The firm has been recognized with more than 500 awards.
Sasaki’s projects are global, sustainable, strategic and as varied and multi-layered as the clients and communities they serve. “Their projects pay close attention to the natural and cultural environments they occupy,”writes Susan S. Szenasy, editor-in-chief of Metropolis, in her foreword to the monograph Sasaki: Intersection and Convergence.
[ GRAPHIC DESIGN ]
[ selected EGD EXPERIENCE ] Alexandria Waterfront Alexandria, Virginia Wayfinding Program Au Bon Pain Façade Various Locations Graphics Guidelines Auburn University Auburn, Alabama Wayfinding and Identity Sign Standards Avalon Walnut Creek Contra Costa, California Exterior Wayfinding Program Biogen Idec Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts Lobby Graphics Cabot Corporation Boston, Massachusetts Corporate History Display Wall and Interior Signage System Channel Center Boston, Massachusetts Branding and Placemaking Graphics Cleveland Waterfront Cleveland, Ohio Transit LRT Signage and Kiosks
College of Saint Rose Albany, New York Interior and Exterior Wayfinding and Gateways Downtown Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, Louisiana Wayfinding Signage System Fitcorp Inc., Various Locations Fitness Center Identity Programs Harvard University Harvard Yard Cambridge, Massachusetts Accessibility Signage System Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Hemenway Gymnasium Harvard University Malkin Gymnasium Renovation; Cambridge, Massachusetts John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Washington, DC Exterior Wayfinding Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana Campus Wayfinding Guidelines and Gateways
Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin Master Plan Gateway and Portal Study Montaclair State University Montclair, New Jersey Campus Signage Master Plan Guidelines National Harbor Prince George’s County, Maryland Exterior Wayfinding Program National Park Service Various Locations Site Signage Reports; Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island/ Governor’s Island/ Roger Williams Memorial Northfield Mount Herman School Northfield, Massachusetts Comprehensive Campus Wayfinding Signage Program
Rowan University Glassboro, New Jersey Campus Signage Guidelines Manual Sacred Heart University Chapel Fairfield, Connecticut San Diego Old Police Headquarters San Diego, California Wayfinding and Retail Sign Standards San Diego Unified Port District San Diego, California Signage Guidelines Springfield Convention Center Springfield, Massachusetts Interior and Exterior Wayfinding and Identity Signage St. Edward’s University Austin, Texas Campus Signage Master Plan
Oklahoma City National Memorial Monument Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Graphics
Technology Square Cambridge, Massachusetts Interior and Exterior Signage Master Plan
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Stadium and Arena Graphics and Hall of Fame Exhibit Troy, New York
The Arsenal on the Charles Project Watertown, Massachusetts Identity and Site Signage Guidelines
TJX Corporate Headquarters Café Signage, 9/11 Memorial, and Interior Sign Program Framingham, Massachusetts Trinity College Koeppel Community Sports Center Hartford, Connecticut United States Military West Point, York Academy Interior Wayfinding Program University of Buffalo SUNY Buffalo, New York Exterior Wayfinding Master Plan University of California Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara Student Resource Building University of Massachusetts Amherst Exterior Interpretive Exhibit Amherst, Massachusetts University of Massachusetts Boston Venture Development Center Boston, Massachusetts Interior Branding Program
University of New Hampshire Whittemore Arena/Hamel Recreation Center Durham, New Hampshire Interior Arena Signage University of New Haven Soundview Hall West Haven, Connecticut University of North Texas Denton, Texas Denton Campus Wayfinding Assessment University of South Florida Marshall Student Center Tampa, Florida Wayfinding Program Utah State University Logan, Utah Icon and Gateway Study Walden Woods Project, Brister’s Hill Concord, Massachusetts Interpretive Signage Yale School of Medicine New Haven, Connecticut Parking Garage Signage
[ selected INSTITUTIONAL CLIENTS ] Auburn University Auburn, Alabama Campus sign standards Bates College Lewiston, Maine Student dining hall signage and Alumni Walk exterior donor signage Boston College Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts Campus sign assessment Brandeis University Waltham, Massachusetts Sports center interior and exterior signage Bucknell University Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Campus signage master plan and design guidelines California State University/ Monterey Bay Monterey, California Exterior campus master signage College of the Holy Cross Worcester, Massachusetts Edith Stein Hall building signage College of Saint Rose Albany, New York Interior and exterior campus wayfinding and gateways
Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Harvard Yard, off-campus ADA accessibility signage program, Hemingway Gymnasium, and Malkin Gymnasium Renovation University of Maryland College Park, Maryland Recreation center sign program Iona College New Rochelle, New York Exterior signage program James Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia Recreation center sign program Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland Recreation center sign program Keene State College Keene, New Hampshire Campus gateway Lawrence University Appleton, Wisconsin Wayfinding system Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana campus wayfinding signage program
Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin master plan, gateway and portal study Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts Athletic center sign program Merrimack College Sakowich Campus Center North Andover, Massachusetts Interior signage for a new campus center Merrimack College Student Residence Hall North Andover, Massachusetts Interior signage for a new residence hall Montclair State University Montclair, New Jersey campus signage master plan guidelines Northfield Mount Hermon Northfield, Massachusetts comprehensive campus wayfinding signage program Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York New stadium and arena signage and wayfinding
Rice University Houston, Texas Campus master sign program Rowan University Glassboro, New Jersey Campus signage guidelines manual Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut Chapel St. Edwards University Austin, Texas Campus signage master plan
United States Military Academy West Point, New York Arvin Gymnasium interior signing University of Akron Akron, Ohio Campus signage master plan and landscape design guidelines University of Buffalo SUNY Buffalo, New York Exterior wayfinding master plan
University of Massachusetts, Venture Development Center Boston, Massachusetts Exterior interpretive exhibit University of New Hampshire Whittemore Arena/ Recreational Sports Center Durham, New Hampshire Interior arena signage and graphics
St. Olaf College Buntrock Commons Northfield, Minnesota Interior signage for a new student commons
University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California Recreation center facility and student resource center sign programs
State University of New York at Buffalo Buffalo, New York Exterior signage master plan
University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho Comprehensive campus wayfinding plan
University of North Texas Denton, Texas Denton Campus Wayfinding Assessment
Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar, Virginia Exterior signage master plan and campus gateway
University of Maryland College Park, Maryland Recreation center sign program
University of South Florida Tampa, Florida Gateway Study
Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut Ice arena signage program and recreation center
University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts Recreation center signage program
University of New Haven West Haven, Connecticut David A. Beckerman Recreation Center signage program and residence halls
Utah State University Logan Utah Icon and gateway study Yale School of Medicine New Haven, Connecticut Parking garage graphics
[ AUBURN UNIVERSITY | AUBURN, ALABAMA ] Auburn University hired Sasaki to develop a comprehensive university sign program in tandem with a broad campus master plan update. Auburn charged the design team with developing a system that would reinforce the core campus image and character while extending a recent graphic identity upgrade to remote properties throughout the state. Sasaki designed a full range of signs, from gateways and building identity to accessibility and parking regulatory signs. The palette draws on the neutral color of existing campus fixtures and is built around simple rectangular forms with bright detailing and contemporary stone bases. The phased installation implementation blends with the current campus environment. The design solution factors in the future conditions anticipated by the master plan update. Final sign standards are designed as a companion volume to the master plan document.
[ ALEXANDRIA WATERFRONT | ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA ] The City of Alexandria is reconnecting with their waterfront. New attractions along the Potomac, and increased water taxi traffic has refocused Alexandria’s waterfront as an important gateway to the historic Old Town district.
Sasaki designed kiosks and graphics that inform visitors and build excitement about the range of dining, shopping and cultural attractions found in Old Town.
The kiosk panels are modular and digitally printed, allowing the City easy changeout and maintenance within a rugged structure.
[ CITY OF ALEXANDRIA | ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA ] Sasaki is engaged with the City of Alexandria in the design of a comprehensive, city wide visitor wayfinding system. Developed primarily to aid navigation for visitors and tourists to attractions, parking, restaurants and shopping and transit hubs, the system also provides directions to community destinations such as courthouses, parks, and recreational areas. Large parts of the city, and especially the main tourist avenue of King Street, are deemed historic. The core team of City Planning and Zoning and Sasaki is leading a highly inclusive design process, seeking input from the community at large, merchant groups, public works, historic associations, and advocates for mobility and sight impaired. A new, more visitor friendly, city emblem is being designed, along with visitor maps, and a family of directional, orientation, and identification signs and kiosks. Phase One installation will focus on a new system of parking directionals and a cohesive identification of public parking lots.
[ AU BON PAIN | VARIOUS LOCATIONS ]
Sasaki developed a new “marketplace” concept that would re-energize the sandwich-and-bakery restaurants. Frank Guidara, Au Bon Pain’s president and CEO said, “We knew our customers were ready for a stylish, even seductive change.” The design reflects and reinforces the chain’s identity as a French bakery cafe. The new color scheme focuses on Provencal blue and sunflower yellow. Renovated cafes feature limestone flagstone flooring and museum-quality lighting to focus on food displays. Sasaki is working with Au Bon Pain to roll out the new concept throughout the 240 store chain and has implemented the new design in cafes located in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Cleveland and Chicago. The updated look has generated a 25% increase in revenue.
[ CITY OF BATON ROUGE | BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA ] The City of Baton Rouge hired Sasaki to program, design, and implement a downtown wayfinding system to better serve visitors. Imbued with a rich heritage stemming from a succession of French, English and Spanish rule and Native American culture, the city offered imagery in many forms for the designers to draw from. Sasaki designed district identity icons, information kiosks, street name signs, and interpretive graphics with fresh contemporary interpretations of the city’s history and culture. More than simply wayfinding elements, sign shapes, patterns, fasteners, and details offer visitors to Baton Rouge a visual hint to its history. Heritage trail markers with historic commentary bring additional depth to the system.
International Downtown Association, Outstanding Achievement Award in Transportation, 2008
[ BIOGEN IDEA INC. | CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS ]
The Biogen Idec headquarters expansion and renovation included an 11,000 square foot servery, kitchen and dining room on the first floor of the existing building and the addition of a new adjoining building. Sasaki created, in conjunction with Colburn & Guyette, the design, image and program for the space. New features in the space include a coffee kiosk, varied seating, adjoining conference and board rooms, and bamboo planters to create private areas. The integration of graphics for the servery was a collaborative effort between the interior designers, environmental graphic designers, and the Biogen Idec employees.
[ UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO SUNY | BUFFALO, NEW YORK ]
In 1997, the University updated its visual identity with the creation of a new “interlinked UB� logo. Simultaneously, it formal-ized the need to study the existing signage on its two campuses and develop a strategy for improving visual communication for motorists and pedestrians. Sasaki provided a detailed inventory of existing signs on the 1,300 acre, two campus site and designed a comprehensive system of wayfinding. To make it easier to navigate within the expansive campuses, Sasaki divided each campus into four distinct sectors organized by location and general usage. Each district was given a characteristic color and name. Perimeter identification signs, entry gateways, drive-up maps and a system of direction signs lead motorists to specific parking areas. A uniform method of identifying buildings, directory maps and directional signs was introduced to guide
pedestrians on foot to their ultimate destination. Overwhelming support from the University administration for the master signage plan led to a fast-tracked implementation of over 2,400 signs.
[ CABOT CORPORATION | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ] Every company has a story to tell. Cabot Corporation has an especially interesting one. Founded in 1882, Cabot was an early chemical innovator and now a $2.5 billion company that spurred industries ranging from automobiles to publishing. The challenge is to tell this story in a compelling and interesting way. Sasaki envisioned a story wall for the company’s new wold headquarters in Boston. This visual and verbal narrative takes an esoteric and arcane industry and connects its products to ideas anyone can
understand-how the company’s products helped to widen literacy and mobility in earlier generations, and how they are promoting health and sustainability in our era. As part of Sasaki’s overall services to design Cabot’s headquarters, the story wall now offers visitors-prospective employees, vendors and others-the opportunity to learn about a major company whose work touches society in many ways.
[ CHANNEL CENTER | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ]
In this project, environmental graphic design played a major role in defining and visually connecting a revitalized area of the city. Sasaki also provide planning, urban design, architecture and civil engineering services for the historic rehabilitation and new construction of 1.5 million square feet of residential and commercial space for Beacon Capital Partners and the City of Boston. The planning and permitting for the project involved a year long public process that engaged abutting land owners, local neighborhoods, and the Boston Redevelopment Authority, focusing primarily on a 100 acre area. Borrowing from the historic area’s context of masonry, steel and glass architecture, Sasaki designed neighborhood and street signing that helped create a unique identity. Stencilled aluminum Ibeams, channels, panels and banners
were brightly painted to dot the urban landscape with color and light.
[ CLEVELAND GATEWAY | CLEVELAND, OHIO ]
Cleveland Gateway is part of a sophisticated strategy for urban economic revitalization, demonstrating the benefits of a coordinated consensus-building process to create a new downtown sports district. Gateway was realized with the cooperative efforts of the mayor’s office, City Planning Department, Gateway Economic Development Corporation, city and regional transportation and parking authorities, and two major-league sports franchises. The $425 million project, funded by a combination of publica nd private funds, contributes to the quality of the public domain and the economic vitality of the area. Sasaki’s role included planning and urban design services for the master plan; final design, construction documents, and construction administration of plazas, streetscapes, site and wayfinding graphics; and traffic intersection design.
Cleveland Gateway encompasses a new 28 acre sports complex in downtown Cleveland just two blocks south of Public Square. An important goal for the project maser plan was the incorporation of the new sports and entertainment district into the downtown streetscape. In addition, the connected districts would serve as a catalyst for downtown economic development. The complex includes an open-air, 45,000 seat baseball stadium for the Cleveland Indians, a 20,000 seat multipurpose arena for the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball club, ancillary private development, and a 2,,100 car parking garage. Parking for 14,000 cars was required, but construction of new spaces was minimized through use of shared parking that takes advantage of existing downtown parking structure within walking distance of the complexes.
[ HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS ] Sasaki has provided environment graphic solutions for several projects at Harvard University, including exterior wayfinding accessibility signs, orientation maps, and interior facility sign standards. Our directive for the Harvard Yard project was to implement fully ADAcompliant and highly functional building identification and pathway orientation, in a subtle, historically sensitive manner for this landmark open space. To achieve this, Sasaki worked closely with University design staff,
facility operations and accessibility committees. The system was unanimously approved by the Cambridge Historical and Zoning boards. The use of acrylic polyurethane paint finishes and digital high pressure laminate on signs and stanchions resulted in an installed system that withstands the test of time.
[ THE MARKET COMMON | MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA ]
The Market Common Myrtle Beach is a 100 acre historic United States Air Force site comfortably nestled between the business thoroughfare of the city and its major airport. Close proximity to major ground travel routes, beaches and social destinations make it a perfect location for living —seasonally, or year round. The “urban village” design of the site is designed to provide a unique downtown experience that truly focuses on the pedestrian experience. A lushly landscaped north / south orientated “Main Street” is flanked by high end, nationally recognized retail destinations, businesses, and luxury residential dwellings. Parking is tucked deftly away, behind three story buildings, or within two large garages located adjacent to primary and secondary streets. The Main Street culminates in a multi screen theater complex—both an architectural focal point and day/night
destination. The second major tree lined street intersects Main Street from the east, connecting residential apartment and condominium buildings to the activity. Retail and commercial tenants are augmented by a large park with performance stage and pavilion, entertainment venues, dining, and services, creating a truly viable work/play/live community. The architectural style of The Market Common, showcasing historic styled/ coastal inspired building facades and detailing, provided a natural starting point for environmental graphics. Identity and wayfinding graphics consist of custom post and panel structures with city standard traffic sign panels, parking identification and pedestrian wayfinding kiosks. Sasaki provided ADA, city and code required sign design guidelines for resi-
dential, retail, and business tenants. The consistency in exterior and interior sign systems conveys the notion of a development that took some time to get the elements of visual communication in order— without infringing upon the unique personality of its tenants and residents.
[ NATIONAL HARBOR | PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MARYLAND ] National Harbor is a mixed-use landmark site located along the Potomac River just south off Washington, DC. While convenient to key tourist sites, National Harbor is conceived as a resort and convention destination that offers and alternative to the urban experience of Washington proper. The pedestrian circulation spine of the site, Grand Avenue, will showcase fountains, public art, vendor kiosks and retail store-fronts. Sasaki designed directional signs, venue and parking identification markers, pedestrian directional signs and kiosks to help visitors, hotel guests, and conventioneers navigate the site. The wayfinding system is both unique and customized to a site that will boast architecture, lighting, and landscape design contributed from over a dozen different design firms. Signs are slate blue, accented with red and white to reflect the national pride imbued in the site. Sign hardware and brackets make abstract reference to nautical themes, in keeping with the waterfront location. National Harbor’s graphic identity, which Sasaki enhanced in collaboration with the Client, is a combination of historic typography paired with a contemporary boat icon. It is the pairing of old and new, historic and contemporary, that give this destination a sense of belonging to its surroundings.
[ OPH LANDMARK SITE | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA ] GMS engaged Sasaki to design tenant identity graphics, placemaking graphics, and wayfinding signs for a new mixed use retail and entertainment development in Sand Diego’s historic waterfront. Originally built in the 1930’s as the San Diego police headquarters, the decommissioned complex experienced a rebirth when architects Fehlmean LaBarre teamed with Sasaki landscape architects to address the site and the neighborhood context. Our environmental graphics design team was charged with carefully considering the architectural context of the historic landmark, while designing an overlay layer of fresh, contemporary forms to support the modern day repurposing. Corten and steel, textured glass, stainless hardware, understated typography, and carefully articulated lighting work in unison to provide a level of sophistication in the environmental graphics. A planned street-spanning gateway further expresses the site character and helps to define the project as the anchor of an emerging waterfront district.
[ PUTNAM INVESTMENTS | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ] Sasaki was hired to provide environmental graphic design services for Putnam Investments’ Andover offices a comprehensive wayfinding system with three components was created for the suburban New England office complex: an exterior system for directing vehicles, an interior wayfinding system for directing visitors and employees through the linked office buildings, and a second interior system for guiding employees through the dining complex. Exterior Putnam Investments’ logo color was applied to site identity, primary and secondary vehicular directional signs. signs were constructed of fieldstone, granite and black iron in keeping with the New {England site and landscaping. Interior The renovation of a manufacturing facility into Putnams Investments’ Andover offices was based on the design of seven buildings linked along a central spine. This spine became the main interior corridor, leading to center courts within each building. For the wayfinding system Sasaki referenced New England towns: the center courts are called town centers, and the central spine is Main Street. Each corridor branching off Main Street is associated with a compass point, like Northeast Street. Each building along the spine is named in alphabetical A through H, in ascending order from south to north. The site’s building s were named for local New england towns: Amesbury, Bedford, Concord, Dover, Essex, Franconica, Gloucester and Hamilton. The signs were designed to be reminiscent of old New England road signs.
Dining Complex Signs in the dining complex reflect the 1950’s roadside diner character, common to many of the local New England towns. Brushed stainless steel with stencil cut, streamlined letter forms were used to achieve this effect. with the addition of “Americana” styled icons for menu holder and serving stations.
[ QUADRANT INC | NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS ] Quadrant Health Strategies, Inc. provides long-term solutions in Occupational and Environmental Health Services, corporate wellness and other issues under fourmain business groups. These four areas comprise the “Quadrant” and give the company its name. Our challenge was to create an identity and promotional package for a company that was little known and whose range of services was not easy to understand. The often dry marketing material typically found in health care and insurance companies would not do. We conceived a visual “quadrant” theme and gave it an interesting geometric play—the four areas are represented by fan-shaped elements. They are brightly colored in orange, green, purple and red. On the website, the logo’s four elements are arrayed as to leave voids in the black background. For the folder that is the “wrap” for customized materials packages, we gave these elements a further twist—only three appear on the cover of the folder; the fourth “quadrant” appears inside as a brightly colored flap wherein customized material can be placed—a graphic device to imply that Quadrant’s solutions are the “missing link” in the potential client’s health care strategy. Crucially, individual sheets within the system can be mixed and matched and customized to each client; the resulting package looks as if it has been prepared for that one client alone. The overall effect was at once powerful and unexpected—a bold, purposeful and geometric approach that ties directly into a company’s product line.
[ RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC | TROY, NEW YORK ] Sasaki designed site identify, interior wayfinding and placemaking graphics for a new football stadium and athletic center currently under construction. The architectural structures, also designed by Sasaki feature as custom designed louvered stadium building shell that allows daylight to permeate the concourse while providing protection form the elements. the athletic center is glass-clad and buff-toned concrete masonry. The simplicity of the building materials and color palette stet a baseline for the graphics team to work with. Extensive landscaping, including tiered retraining walls, shade trees and pedestrian courtyard provided opportunities for identity and “spirit” sports-theme graphics. Sasaki researched the institution’s use of their identifying symbols: various logos, the school seal, colors and typography, and made recommendations on how these and other signature elements could be incorporated into the exterior and interior environments created by architecture and landscape. A palette of primary colors, white metal, and classic clean-lined typography emerged as critical components and signs. The result is a system that functions both in concert with the superior scale of the stadium structure as well as the athletic center’s more intimate interior.
To All Grandstand Seating
G AT E
A
TO GRANDSTAND & GENERAL ADMISSION SEATING
G AT E
[ TD BANKNORTH GARDEN | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ] Sasaki designed and implemented an expansion of Boston’s North Station for weekday commuters and weekend train users. Extension of an existing boarding platform and an additional 20-,000 square foot waiting area were added to the existing concourse. The new space is enclosed and climate controlled, an important amenity for hot summer and brisk New England winters. column mounted light fixtures, a warm wood seating, digital display board compliment a warm, neutral toned interior that provides passengers protection fro the elements while they wait for trains. Large-scale and dramatically illuminated graphics over glass doors leading to train tracks beckon and inform passengers. Passenger directional signing was executed to closely match existing MBTA standards. Retail booths, newsstand kiosks, and seating are planned in a second phase of work.
[ TECHNOLOGY SQUARE @ MIT | CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS ]
The vision for Technology Square @ MIT was to create an urban place that would be integrated into the physical fabric of the City of Cambridge. The renovated and expanded urban campus functions as a first-class location for research and development firms, retail venues, and residences, with a lively atmosphere that is attractive to both visitors and residents of the City. Gateway signs, vehicular directional signs, and wayfinding map kiosks help visitors navigate the site. Retail sign standards were developed to ensure well placed, legible graphics for current and future shops and services.
[ TJX FAMILY MEMORIAL GARDEN | FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS ] The TJX Companies commissioned Sasaki to design a memorial for their seven female associates who perished on September 11, 2001. Sasaki worked with TJX to select a site at the company’s headquarters, then collaborated with the associates’ families to design a 2,000 square foot garden and memorial sculpture. A series of trellises covered with flowering clematis and other vines screen the garden from the street and sidewalk. A canopy of river birch trees provides shade. Plantings include evergreens, roses, lilacs and hydrangea, which were favorites of the women. Ceramic pots feature particular flowers or colors requested by the families. At the center of the garden is a long, low, glowing, curved lass sculpture. The front face of the sculpture features seven panels, one designed by each family, containing images and words that reinforce the unique identity of each woman.
[ THE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT | LINCOLN, MASSACHUSETTS ] Sasaki provided environmental graphic and landscape design services for Brister’s Hill, an 18.6 acre parcel of land in the center of historic Walden Woods. The location and condition of the site, significantly altered by sand mining, provided a unique opportunity to interpret Thoreau’s observations and writing. The landscape design along with a program of landscape restoration and invasive plant removal restores areas that had been damaged by off-road vehicles and encourages the natural succession of existing plants. The exhibit is organized around a simple loop path with granite and bronze elements featuring quotations from Thoreau. Quotes are carved into stones set into the earth. Landscape features illustrative of Thoreau’s observations and writings are featured with granite and bronze markers.
Boston Society of Landscape Architects, Merit Award in Communications, 2007
[ WATERTOWN ARSENAL SITE SIGNS | WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS ]
Sasaki provided an overall sign master plan and retail tenant sign guidelines for this 35-acre, historic, mixed-use redevelopment project. Phase One implementation consisted of a complete identity, building address and wayfinding sign system fabricated in the materials that integrate well with the existing historic architecture. All sign components are installed with tamper proof, mechanical fasteners that enable local sign vendors to remove, update, and replace sign panels as needed.
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