On October 15, the University of Washington unveiled a gift to the University from the Class of 1960, a seven-foot tall “W”.

The iconic bronze landmark is placed at Memorial Drive, the primary entrance to the UW campus. “The “W” fulfills a key part of our assignment for the UW: design elements that are welcoming and brand them as distinctive to the UW.” said Mike Courtney, creative director of Michael Courtney Design and member of the team that designed the landmark.

The UW Class of 1960 gathers in front of the W for a portrait.

Design

MCD recommended several ideas to use the newly adopted “W (brand)” and drew this thumbnail sketch in one of the meetings.

MCD designed the landmark as part of the comprehensive Environmental Graphics Master Plan for the Seattle campus. While evaluating the existing system, the team received several requests for a singular place or landmark, symbolic of and distinctive to the UW. Additionally, President Mark Emmert and others noted the desire for a strategically placed landmark for both brand recognition and photo opportunities, too.

“Each year, over 14 million people come onto the UW campus and travel to 300 buildings and dozens of key destinations. The new graphics program is designed to direct and inform them and to align with the UW brand.” said Mike Courtney, creative director of Michael Courtney Design. “Our assignment has been to design elements that are welcoming and brand them as distinctive to the UW and the “W” landmark donated by the Class of 1960 plays a key role.”

MCD was asked to develop the design and then develop an image to show it at Memorial Drive. After approval, the Class of 1960 stepped forward to donate the funds for the project.

Process

The drawings were  translated into technical documents by MCD, CREO and JMN Consulting Engineers. The fabricator (Plumb Signs) fabricated the “W” from silicon bronze sheets.

Installation at Memorial Drive, October 14^th and 15^th. The installation coincides with a redesign of the Memorial Way entrance by the UW, including new landscaping and cleaning the existing obelisks.

The dedication took place October 15^th as part of 2010 Homecoming Weekend.

Project team: University of Washington-client. Michael Courtney, Landon Fisher, Debra Burgess – MCD design team. Prefabrication consultation and coordination –CREO. Engineering – JMN Consulting Engineers, PLLC. Fabricator–Plumb Signs.

Links:

UW University Week

The Times of London recently recognized the University of Washington as the fourth best American public college In their higher education list, and 23rd best university in the world.
Link to the Times.

This year, the University of Washington (UW) and dozens of organizations are celebrating the AYPE centennial with special events, talks, tours, and more.

AYPE established important national and international bonds with business, civic and political institutions that exist today and created the initial physical plan of the University of Washington.

On the grounds of the then-undeveloped University, expo organizers erected a number of grand Beaux Arts buildings, a midway, and other structures. Most of those buildings—built more to wow fairgoers than to endure the passage of time—are long gone.

The UW invited us to work together on an interpretive program to mark the grand spectacle that once unfolded on campus.

MCD designed a system to display the information and to fit any location. Flexibility was our theme: the UW in-house team built the markers, and information panels will be replaced with new information after the current event.

Credits: UW Marketing for the design work on the panels; UW Facilities for fabrication.

Links:

University of Washington
http://www.washington.edu/visit/aype

City of Seattle
www.ayp100.org

UW Libraries Special Collections
http://content.lib.washington.edu/aypweb/index.html

Burke Museum
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/exhibits/details.php?ID=72&type=upcoming