ULab

University Prep’s campus was set to expand with a new interdisciplinary ULab building, featuring a light-filled atrium and communal working spaces. Mithun, who has worked with UPrep for over a decade, brought us on board to design the signage for this new flagship building and at the same time create a campus-wide signage masterplan. The 39,000 sq ft ULab project adds almost a full acre to the school’s existing 2.5 acre campus in north Seattle.

ULab was designed with three guiding principles for the school community: Include, Invent and Inspire. This inspired our graphic language of three patterns that combine to identify the building and symbolize the multidisciplinary teaching within. The pattern language also echoes the perforated metal that features throughout the airy interiors. Bright colors and friendly typography feels welcoming but also mature, as ULab serves upper-class students.

We worked closely with Mithun’s landscape team to integrate the signage across the site. Careful grading and native plantings tie together the newly expanded campus and create lush indoor-outdoor learning environments for the students.