Reenergizing a former industrial site with massive murals and colorful signage
Located in a former Sears distribution center, Union Collective is a curated commercial development and home to Baltimore makers that include Union Craft Brewing, Baltimore Spirits Company, Vent Coffee Roasters, a climbing gym, and various small craft producers. Our branding, wayfinding signage, and environmental graphics enliven the space, signaling its transformation from nondescript warehouse to buzzing artisan hub.
The Union Collective branding playfully pays homage to the building’s industrial past. Stencil lettering and geometric wall graphics suggest shelves stacked with goods and appliances. Vibrant color and kinetic compositions represent the energy of the space’s present-day tenants.
Colorful murals enliven the warehouse’s cavernous hallways. From precarious stacks to full-width patterns to tumbling heaps, the forms leap across walls and floors in a variety of creative supergraphics. The stacked shapes and crate-like seating reference the building’s history as a Sears distribution center, given colorful new life by local artisan businesses.
“That’s a big wall.”
A massive, 400-foot long mural covers the back of Union Collective, transforming this drab brick wall into an unmistakable Baltimore landmark. Facing I-83, the busiest highway in Baltimore, the mural brightens the commutes of tens of thousands of drivers each day.
Memorable wayfinding
Roadside pylons and wayfinding signage built with salvaged wood recall the shipping palettes that once filled the former warehouse. A context-specific approach and bold design aesthetic allowed our team to make a big impact with a lean budget. The experiential design — supergraphics, murals, signage, and custom seating — helps shape a memorable visitor experience to the Union Collective complex.
