Pentagram partner Michael Bierut has designed a programme of signage, wayfinding and environmental graphics for Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, in the U.S., that reflects its one-of-a-kind character.
The home of basketball team the Brooklyn Nets, and host to concerts by artists such as the Rolling Stones, Jay-Z and Paul McCartney, Barclays Centre has become the top–selling venue in the U.S. (and number two in the world). Now the arena has received a graphic makeover that integrates seamlessly with the interior architecture.
The signage system was devised in collaboration with the architects to create signage that would both complement the building’s unusual weathered steel framework and provide cohesive, easy-to-use navigation for the 205 740 square metre space.
The finished programme of interior and exterior signage and wayfinding includes more than 2 300 signs throughout the arena. The comprehensive system not only helps attendees navigate the interior space, but also directs commuters towards various entrances.
To establish a unique sense of place, Bierut worked with Brooklyn-based type designer Chester Jenkins to develop a family of fonts that represents the Brooklyn “DIY” sensibility and dynamic history of the site as a rail yard.
A robust material that resembles the weathered steel of the exterior matches the strong typography of the signs. For fabrication of interior signage and wall cladding, Bierut introduced a newly developed, innovative powder-coated aluminium that matches the colour and finish of the weathered exterior.
Watch the Trailer with Michael Bierut
