The wayfinding at the newly renovated Vernier Science Center is inspired by the school’s ITECK (Indigenous Traditional Ecological & Cultural Knowledge) program and our extensive engagement with Indigenous students and faculty.

Each level of the 6-story classroom building is identified by an ecosystem and plant or animal relative native to the Pacific Northwest. Simplified landscapes—ranging from the low-lying coastal elevation at Level 0 to the Cascade Plateau at Level 6—are painted within each floor’s halls to support wayfinding. All the landscape elevations are stacked together in a vibrant graphic at the first-floor directory to form a familiar representation of the terrain in Oregon.

Floor numbers also incorporate an icon unique to each level’s ecosystem. Each floor icon is identified in a different Indigenous language spoken in the Pacific Northwest, along with its corresponding English translation:

Level 0: Coastal Marsh + cáqʷɬ (Wapato)
Level 1: Oak Savanna + ḱanawi (White Oak), lakámas (Camas)
Level 2: Willamette Riparian + tchίalash (Salmon)
Level 3: Cascade Rainforest + íshkan (Western Red Cedar)
Level 4: High Desert + ch’uu-’it (Juniper)
Level 5: Cascade Plateau + cemíitx (Mountain Huckleberry)

Interpretive plaques at the building entry and next to the large floor icons help visitors understand the significance of the design elements seen throughout, while the use of color differentiates east and west ends of the science center to orient users within the building. This comprehensive design system ties Indigenous language, significant regional flora and fauna, and color together to showcase Indigenous Traditional Ecological & Cultural Knowledge while ensuring intuitive wayfinding throughout.

Anchoring the Vernier Science Center is a donor plaque near the first-floor reception desk that honors the significant contributions of the building’s namesake. Crafted of a coated aluminum material found on the building’s exterior, this signage incorporates the landscape stack from the wayfinding system and reinforces a curated, cohesive brand that elevates the entire building experience.