Timeless Traditional Meets Classic Contemporary

You see it time and time again – college campus architecture that travels back in time. Beautiful arch ways, marble columns and intricate woodwork; deep, rich colors accompanying dark stained walnut. When you think of recognition within these walls, many people would automatically assume cast bronze and crown molding displays. Of course, this is the definition of traditional architecture, is it not? While this is definitely what you picture when you think of a time-honored, classic campus, why not push the donor recognition into the twenty-first century?

When you’re willing to break through the standard set so many years ago, you can create a display that invites viewership through fresh design and interactiveness. For example, when Regis University approached PIR, we were asked to provide a display that incorporated an interactive monitor along with recognizing their most established donors. The interactive monitor was capable of incorporating so much more than what the actual dimensions of the wall could hold. This in turn allows you more room to highlight the major donors within the space.

Expanding on what type of system to use is not the only way to break those traditional boundaries. Design style is another. Revitalize those walls with a light coat of fresh paint. Add another layer of intrigue by creating some tone-on-tone elements along with some spot lighting. Don’t be afraid to use materials that go against the grain of traditional thinking. The featured Regis University display does just this. Through using elements within their branding identity, PIR created a welcoming, layered display that captures attention when entering their beautiful, historic building. Yes, their arthitecture is definitely traditional, but if you want your donors to stand out and be recognized, try something new. Sometimes it’s just about finding the unexpected.