THE PIPER
Quarterra Group
Nested next to Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington sits The Piper Apartments. This mixed-use, multifamily apartment complex is designed to intertwine nature and daily life. The East Building- 2 city blocks in length, and five stories high sits directly center in the outdoor garden plaza. It’s exterior facade tells the location’s unique story.
Project Management & cURATION: Nine Dot Arts, Curator: Denise Joseph, PM: Lauren DonalD & Donnie MacDonald, CLIENT SIte PM: MIKEAEL ANDERSON, Architect: Chris Lyon & Encore Architects, Lead Designer/Creative Director & Install LEAD: Teresa Grasseschi, Install Team Assistants: Overall Creative
CREATIVE DIRECTION
The direction for this multi-year project took shape through extensive brand and location research where I developed visual alignment framework for character and storyline development. I created a campaign deck reflective of this research and data that we used as our living guide supporting all stages of project build out.
Graphics Development
A challenge in this work’s development was the size and scope of the building. While the facade was overwhelmingly large, the courtyard side was a grid of windows. The graphics needed an anchor or the eye got lost in the grid.
This anchor came in the concept in a flowing river.
By using a flat background color as the main story element, I allowed for the static pockets to still feel alive, while detailed character work moved continuously, drawing the eye across the facade. I tilted the shape of the willow reeds to reflect the same pattern and direction present in The Piper’s brand graphics further tying the location to the brand.
I worked closely with the Nine Dot team and architect Chris Lyon to provide 3D renderings in Sketch Up allowing the client to virtually walk through the space prior to installation.
INSTALLATION
Assisted by Overall Creative, our team of six muralists installed the work over a two week period. Due to the other construction work taking place we opted to install via swing stage, half the crew worked by grid locations from the top down, while the other half worked via ladder and scissor lift from the bottom up. Finishing the work on time required a high level of spacial planning and color blocking. Progress shots were taken at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% completion intervals and sent to the client for updated review.
RESULTS
This work executed on schedule, and in budget with the final walk through resulted in the highest level of client satisfaction.