The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) occupies the 4th floor of the General Services Administration (GSA) building at 201 Varick Street in Lower Manhattan. Via Collective teamed with Dattner Architects to renovate and upgrade this office space to create easier navigation and a stronger sense of connection among the entities that occupy it. Via Collective implemented a “site-specific branding” approach utilized to create a wayfinding system that spoke to its location, content, and user’s needs.
The VBA shares the 4th floor of the building with the Veteran Affairs (VA), Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), and the GSA. Given the many stakeholders involved in the end product and therefore decision-making and overall execution of this interior renovation project, we needed to provide solutions that met their individual goals while accomplishing the overall project goals – elevate the overall first impression of visiting veterans and create ease for the employees working in the space. This included a wayfinding system that established differentiation among the many stakeholder groups, ease of navigation throughout the space, and a branded environment to anchor visitors. The Owner also wanted the system to be adaptable for implementation across the building in the future.
The original layout lacked natural light and landmarks to guide visiting veterans throughout the space. We designed a modular directional signage system that led users around corners and down dimly lit corridors back to elevator banks and main hubs of the office. We incorporated environmental graphics such as wall murals throughout the space that included thematic imagery, inspirational quotes, and company values. We created a monochromatic room identification system with consistent typography and varying materials to differentiate the many stakeholder groups. Ultimately, we delivered a simple, yet effective system that could be replicated across the building.