Project

WMATA – Washington D.C.

The project for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in Washington, D.C., was a comprehensive inventory and design upgrade to enhance wayfinding and passenger information throughout the extensive Metrorail system. As the sign system design consultant to the consortium of architects and engineers for the WMATA project, the Ilium focus centered on system-wide improvements to enhance wayfinding at complex urban stations where multiple lines intersect, and passenger volumes are highest. A thorough review of wayfinding, identification, and passenger information was conducted for high-volume central business district stations, resulting in a pilot program for signage improvements at Gallery Place-Chinatown Station, a complex multi-line, multi-level station in the heart of Washington, D.C. A key principle of the pilot was the deliberate separation of identification, directional, and informational signage messages, with backlighting introduced to primary signs for improved visibility. This work addressed the challenges passengers face when navigating one of the nation’s busiest and most complex rail transit systems.

The work also included updates to signage forms and layouts to improve clarity and consistency across the system. A distinction was created between underground and street-level wayfinding by incorporating familiar aspects of the existing graphic standards alongside a new system of subtle color-coding and typeface variation. Updates to brand identification were developed to modernize WMATA’s visual presence while maintaining the iconic design elements that riders associate with the Metro system. The development of “new era” signage and information was created for new stations being added to the network, ensuring that expansion projects maintained visual consistency with the existing system while incorporating improved wayfinding principles. Through an IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity) contract structure, various projects were completed that collectively enhanced the passenger experience across WMATA’s rail network.

Services Provided

• System-wide wayfinding improvements
• Station signage review and analysis
• High-volume CBD station wayfinding studies
• Pilot program development for signage improvements
• Signage forms and layouts updates
• Brand identification updates
• Passenger information design
• “New era” signage development for new stations
• Station identification systems
• Platform and directional signage
• Wayfinding program for complex urban stations
• Design standards and consistency maintenance
• Multi-line intersection wayfinding solutions
• IDIQ contract project management