Two Twelve Designs Wayfinding and Signage for New Meadowlands Stadium Opening Today East Rutherford, NJ, 10 April 2010—Two Twelve, the New York City-based public information design firm, collaborated with an all-star project team to develop a state-of-the-art graphics and wayfinding system for the New Meadowlands Stadium ("NMS"), the new home of the New York Jets and New York Giants NFL teams in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which officially opens today. From producing the video that animated the groundbreaking ceremony on 5 September 2007, to designing the sign systems that are now guiding fans from their parking spaces to their seats, Two Twelve has had a fundamental impact on the way fans experience the New Meadowlands Stadium. ###
Contact:
Sarah Haun
Two Twelve Associates
902 Broadway
New York, NY 10010
212 254 6670
shaun@twotwelve.com
"Our job was to sell and support the excitement of Game Days and other spectacles that attract thousands to the site," says Two Twelve principal Ann Harakawa. "By designing high-impact visuals and information systems that help move people efficiently through the site, we have helped create this important aspect of the fan experience."
Two Twelve produced multiple design projects for New Meadowlands Stadium LLC, the 50/50 joint venture formed by the Jets Development LLC and Giants Stadium LLC to finance the stadium development. Two Twelve's NMS projects included:
A Better Experience From Street to Seat
The New Meadowlands Stadium sets the standard for venue excellence, with state-of-the-art technology, comfort, and amenities. With a seating capacity of 82,500, the New Meadowlands Stadium is the third-largest stadium in the National Football League. Highlights include four massive 30' x 118' HD video display boards in each of the stadium corners; a 48" x 2200' ribbon board that circles the interior bowl; 2100+ HD monitors throughout the stadium; and 20 HD video pylons ranging in size from 20" x 40" to 20" x 60." Outside the stadium, a 350,000-square-foot outdoor plaza will boast fan-centric activities and pregame entertainment zones. A signature amenity of the stadium is the brand new rail line that drops off passengers directly in front of the stadium. To help visitors locate destinations within the 1.9-million-square-foot building and navigate surrounding parking and transit access areas, Two Twelve has designed a comprehensive system of environmental graphics including wayfinding signage and concessions graphics.
"From the moment you enter the New Meadowlands Stadium site to the moment you leave it, our job was to make sure the visitor's time is spent enjoying the event and the scene," says Two Twelve Creative Director and project manager Jonathan Posnett, "not getting lost or confused looking for parking, a seat, or a ride home."
This is no small task in the huge Meadowlands Sports & Entertainment Complex, which not only includes the NMS stadium but also the Meadowlands Xanadu entertainment center currently under construction, the Izod Center arena, and Meadowlands racetrack.
Two Teams, Two Fan Bases
New Meadowlands Stadium is unique in that it is the only NFL stadium shared by two teams.
"The goal is that, when Jets fans came here, they felt it was the Jets Stadium, and when Giants fans came here, they felt it was the Giants Stadium," explains NMS President and CEO Mark Lamping.
Two Twelve's environmental graphic design program is instrumental in creating a "nonpartisan" atmosphere that can be altered—quickly and simply—to reflect whichever team is playing on any given day. Among the changeable elements including the FieldTurf end zones, which are branded with the teams' names, is variable colored lighting in the signage, which can change to Jets green, Giants blue, or any other color preferred for other events at the push of a button.
Two Twelve used Philips Color Kinetics LED lighting (the same type of lighting used at the top of the Empire State Building) throughout the stadium to create one of the most advanced changeable sign systems currently in existence. On New York Jets game days, interior stadium signage, the sales center wall, and even the exterior face of the stadium will glow green; on New York Giants game days, blue. For concerts or other gatherings and sporting events, signs can be illuminated other colors or programmed to flash.
Some of the wayfinding signage designs were based on initial concepts created by Bruce Mau Design. After some collaboration with them and the client team during creative development, Two Twelve refined the designs and made them buildable by selecting materials and finishes; sourcing the lighting solution; working out the specifications for production; and providing oversight through successful fabrication and installation.
The first event held at NMS will be the Konica Minolta Big City Classic lacrosse tournament on 10 April 2010; the Bamboozle music festival begins 30 April 2010; and Bon Jovi will play four concerts in May and July 2010. The New York Giants will host the first NFL regular season game at their new home on 12 September 2010, followed by the New York Jets the next night.
About Two Twelve
Two Twelve (http://www.twotwelve.com) is a graphic design firm that seeks sustainable solutions to problems of wayfinding, information, and visioning. David Gibson founded Two Twelve in 1980, and he and his partner Ann Harakawa presently run the firm's New York-based operation. Important commissions have included wayfinding, graphics, and signage design for the New York Mets' new ballpark, Citi Field; the Yale University campus; Massachusetts General Hospital; Radio City Music Hall; and Grand Central Terminal. Mr. Gibson is the author of the award-winning volume The Wayfinding Handbook: Information Design for Public Places (Princeton Architectural Press, 2009), an introduction to the interdisciplinary design practice.