City of Troy

Troy, New York

The City of Troy has one of the most perfectly preserved 19th-century downtowns in the United States, it is the “Home of Uncle Sam, is nicknamed the “Collar City”, and has a robust history in manufacturing  and an entrepreneurial spirit in emerging technologies. Over the years, new signage has been slowly added throughout the Downtown next to old signage creating confusion and making it a challenge to navigate. The city sought to introduce a new wayfinding system that will help foster a sense of place, enhance city branding and simplify navigation.

Tangram designed a new wayfinding system that directs to points of interest, cultural, historical, and geographical landmarks, business corridors/districts, colleges and universities, and creates connections to adjacent neighborhoods, parking, public space and government buildings. The new wayfinding system coincides with the recently adopted Realize Troy Comprehensive Plan, fits the city’s historic character, and meets NYDOT and ADA standards. The signage design integrates classic structural forms with modern sign panels. The colors represent the city’s brand, the wave on the sign panel pays homage to the Hudson River which Troy lies adjacent to, and the structural posts and wrought iron components reflect the city’s heritage.