Gonzaga University, John J. Hemmingston Center

This busy student union challenged Knot Studio’s designers to highlight the building’s creativity, spirituality, and education mission while creating a peaceful atmosphere to unify many different program elements.

A place for reflection, the John J. Hemmingston Center challenged Knot Studio’s wayfinding and placemaking designers to help create an atmosphere of peacefulness. Located on a premier Jesuit University campus, the Hemmingston Center invites students, faculty, and staff to interact in various settings. Knot Studio’s wayfinding and placemaking design are crucial to the success of the building’s program, as it helps students navigate through environments to find food and coffee, learn about travel opportunities, become more connected with Gonzaga students, and reflect on their faith. Wall graphics, such as a large-scale photo taken by a Gonzaga staff member in Italy, were incorporated into lounge areas to remind students of the world that awaits them.

The building also houses the Center for Community Engagement, the Zakheim Center for Global Engagement, the Center for Student Involvement, and a significant donor wall. The key to Knot Studio’s design was responding to the specific needs of each area of the John J. Hemmingston Center—using contextual placemaking graphics to highlight the building’s mission of creativity, spirituality, and education. Knot Studio pulled in color cues from the building’s exterior, such as the color bronze, to tie the interior with the exterior. The result is a dynamic student union that conveys the important messages of Gonzaga University through artful signage while also giving students a respite from the busy academic life.