A Year in Review: Kolar’s 2022 Rewind
2022 was a momentous year for Kolar and our clients – a year of change, innovation, and growth. As we take a look back at our projects, we feel honored to partner and work with so many amazing clients with different needs and backgrounds. We truly appreciate the opportunity to collaborate and creatively execute effective design strategies. As we reflect on the 2022 year, we want to take a moment and share some highlights from projects completed, projects in progress with partners we graciously call our clients, and community engagement that Kolar truly is honored to work on.
UC HEALTH
Healthcare is a sector Kolar has extensive experience in. Working on the UC Health project was an exceptional example of design transformation. Creating a space that instills trust and a sense of calm for patients and visitors is vital. For Kolar’s partnership with UC Health on the Clifton Campus renovation, managing the patient experience and first impression when entering onto the campus was a crucial aspect of the revitalization project. The project began with cross-departmental interviews and focus groups with stakeholders to identify key success criteria for transforming the UC Health environment. Upon arrival on campus, Kolar and UC Health’s goal was to create a wayfinding experience incorporating brand and design to meet the needs of the patient and visitors and easily guide them through the space. This includes an arrival point that confidently announces and welcomes visitors. Upon arrival, the interior space is welcoming, bright, and sophisticated, greeting visitors with key services right at the front door. Digital and physical wayfinding systems are used to elevate the overall experience and create visual landmarks through stunning artwork, color, and architectural integration.
JOHNSON INVESTMENT COUNSEL
When Johnson Investment Counsel (JIC) a Cincinnati-headquartered wealth management firm serving 49 states across the country – sought to update their space to accommodate growth, they trusted Kolar to create an environment that inspires and connects their brand, culture, and team. To create an engaging experience for JIC team members, Kolar used surveys and workshop sessions to learn valuable insights that would help determine the vision of a new working culture and space. After this discovery phase, Kolar developed the strategic roadmap and conceptual layouts of the office. Currently, JIC is implementing their new workplace of the future strategy in a multi-location expansion and Kolar is partnering with JIC to create a new hub that will retain and attract top talent.
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Kolar has extensive experience in universities’ wayfinding and environmental graphic design – using our highway to hallway strategies to create a uniquely branded and easy to navigate journey for students, faculty, and campus visitors. The Hillside District is the new heart of the University of Pittsburgh campus with a recreation and wellness center for students. The system will include banners, murals, digital media, wayfinding, and a digital strategy to punctuate the experience along the HillSide District. The roughly 270,000-square-foot facility is being designed as the coolest and healthiest place on campus, building greater connectivity and serving as a top destination for students.
BLINK CINCINNATI
Kolar was honored to be a part of this year’s BLINK event, partnering with the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, Moerlein Lager House, Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, and Clearsound Lights. BLINK is the nation’s largest light, art, and projection mapping experience, bringing awe-inspiring art innovation and technology to our region. Kolar designed and implemented the Enchanted Forest display located at Schmidlapp Lawn in the Banks district, creating a respite right in the heart of downtown. The result was a truly magical experience for visitors, including a stunning display of lights and design curated by our incredibly talented team. See more in our video:
We can’t express how grateful we are to have the opportunity to work on these projects. Our multidisciplinary team is dedicated to delivering stellar work and committed to continuing to grow and innovate in an industry that is ever-changing. With our clients and team, we were able to achieve all of the wonderful accomplishments we reached this year. We look forward to continuing our Kolar mission, partnering with clients across all backgrounds and industries in 2023!