Wheeling Town Center is a 100,000-square-foot transit-oriented mixed-use development in suburban Chicago where commuters, residents, diners and event-goers converge daily around a Metra station. That density and diversity of use created both the opportunity and the imperative for a wayfinding and signage system capable of making every visitor feel oriented, welcomed and connected.

The solution centered on a layered, hierarchical system organized around five distinct experiential zones, each serving different user needs. Branded gateway markers welcome arriving commuters directly from the platform, while vehicular and pedestrian directional signage guide visitors efficiently to dining, entertainment, residential entries and the Community Plaza. The design language draws from the plaza's own geometric paving patterns and contemporary architecture, incorporating angular forms, warm material palettes of metal and wood and integrated lighting that extends the system's functionality and ambiance well into the evening.

Residential signage for ONE Wheeling Town Center maintains cohesion while remaining clearly distinct from public-facing elements. Flexible banner mounting and digital message boards ensure the system adapts gracefully to the plaza's active programming calendar. The result is a signage environment that does not merely direct but reinforces the Town Center's identity as a unified, vibrant destination where transit, community and everyday life intersect.

Collaboration with Kimley-Horn and the Village of Wheeling, Illinois

DISCIPLINE
Brand Identity, Wayfinding & Interpretive Signage

SECTOR
Municipal, Business