Placer One is a 2,200 acre, multi-phase community development project outside of Sacramento, California. The project is spearheaded by developer Taylor builders, and envisions a diverse community of lively neighborhoods, green spaces, connective trails, active commercial corridors, and university campus extensions for Sacramento State University and Sierra College. Taylor Builders saw public art as a vital part of the project’s development, leveraging it to strengthen the visual identity of Placer One and reflect the vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive community they hoped to attract. The developer asked Graham Projects to create a public art master plan, artistic streetscape furnishings and wayfinding to integrate both their branding and artful touches into their forthcoming public spaces and public infrastructure.
The public art masterplan was a collaboration between Graham Projects and Via Partnership. The document identifies public art opportunities, recommends locations, and guides Taylor builders through the process of commissioning artists and installing the final pieces. The guide outlines several categories of public art at scales ranging from monumental to intimate, and details how each type of public art will be integrated into Placer One. The plan also provides technical recommendations for planning, coordination, local outreach, and funding new public artworks.
In addition to the public art masterplan, Taylor Builders asked Graham Projects to develop branded artistic streetscape furnishings, including benches, litter receptacles, bus shelters, interactive kiosks, little free libraries, bird houses, insect hotels, and bike racks. The designs incorporate the blues, greens, and oranges of the project’s brand colors, mixing powdercoated metal with wood accents. Nods to the concentric ‘O’s of the Placer One logo are artfully synthesized throughout the concepts.
Wayfinding concepts draw from the forest greens and blues of Placer One’s color palette, and combine them with natural textures to create a joyful yet timeless aesthetic. Concentric ‘O’ embellishments resonate with the streetscape furnishings. Vertical timber patterns, angled shapes, and softened corners are signature elements of the wayfinding, visually tying the various signage types together for an approachable, friendly feel. Graham Projects designed several signs across a spectrum of scales, including informational signs, directional signs, trailhead signs, trail blazes, and horizontal and vertical park entrance signs.
Project partners: Taylor Builders, VIA Partnership, Urban Arena, Blue Line Arts
Design Team: Lead Designer: Zoe Roane-Hopkins, Art Director: Graham Coreil-Allen
