Vassar Inn & Institute

The Heartwood, a new addition to the Vassar campus, houses a 50-room inn, a farm-to-table restaurant, and a conference center. The building and its amenities were designed to establish connections to Poughkeepsie and the greater Hudson Valley region. The building will become a meeting place for collaboration and the exchange of ideas, representing the spirit of Vassar.

HDG partnered with Frederick Fisher & Partners and Vassar to design a holistic program encompassing vehicular wayfinding, illuminated building identification, hand-painted restaurant identification, donor recognition, wayfinding, and room signage. The program utilizes and blends together branding for each of the entities within the building. An emphasis is placed on bespoke details and natural and warm materials. A minimal approach was taken by the HDG designers so that the signage elements help to enhance the building rather than become overly prominent.

Architect: Frederick Fisher & Partners
Interior Designer: Commune
Fabrication: Nova Industrial Arts
Photography: David Lamb