Indianapolis is preparing for visitors from across the globe to descend upon the Hoosier state for the Indianapolis 500, and many of the families and fans will arrive via the award-winning Indianapolis International Airport (IND). Upon arrival, travelers will be greeted by three improvements that Synthesis and the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) have worked together on over the past several years to ensure our visitor’s time spent in the terminal and civic plaza is as enjoyable and as stress-free as possible.
These efforts were all born out of a study conducted in 2017 to create a “Sense of Place” for travelers. This research discovered that travelers experienced anxiety around three topics when visiting IND:
Finding the correct Concourse: A or B
Locating the nearest restrooms
Charging their electronic devices
As part of the Terminal Optimization Program (TOP), which resulted from that research, Synthesis worked with IAA on these three initiatives to enhance the overall travel experience and address these concerns.
Go big or go home
Wayfinding that is immediately identifiable and cuts through the clutter of other retail signage was the objective. This goal was met with the creation of two 40-ft tall digital displays, known as Luminaires, that are visible as you leave the ticketing area and enter Civic Plaza. These eye-popping Luminaires make it easy for travelers to determine where they need to go to reach their desired concourse. Learn more about this unique wayfinding solution here. As part of the original design, the digital displays can change to fit any occasion, like the Indy 500. This is just one of the many ways that the IAA has prepared for the influx of travelers, learn more about how the IAA has rolled out the red carpet for visitors.
When you gotta go
For anyone traveling, especially those with little ones, the next question on the top of any visitor’s mind is, “where are the restrooms?”. Again, Synthesis and the IAA took a unique approach to help traveler’s ease their minds and quickly identify the closest restroom. Playful forms beckon travelers with pops of light and color to a whimsical and unexpected experience as they locate the nearest restroom. These wayfinding friends create a positive and lasting experience and can easily be seen from across the terminal or plaza. To further enhance the experience, several restrooms in each concourse feature video walls that share the stories of some of our most prominent Hoosiers, such as legendary author, Kurt Vonnegut. These animated vignettes help illustrate that Indiana is more than corn, cars, or basketball, it has a deep and rich cultural history too. Check out these welcoming restrooms
Running on empty
One of the earliest initiatives that Synthesis was able to help the IAA achieve involved some cosmetic changes to the terminals, including the creation of custom carpet that visually integrates while simultaneously guiding travelers to various spots throughout the concourse where they can relax as they wait for their flight to depart and maybe more importantly, to charge their electronic devices. Synthesis made recommendation to increase the number of charging ports to provide power for every seat in the concourses, ensuring a greater percentage of travelers will have access to an electrical outlet. A fully charged mobile phone is one of the most important security blankets a traveler can have, especially during the greatest spectacle in racing.
We are thrilled to have played a part in the effort to welcome everyone to Indiana as we enjoy not only the Indy 500 but all of the related events. Our relationship with the IAA remains strong as we continue to look at new and innovative ways to welcome visitors and enhance their overall travel experience as they visit Indy.
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