Therkildsen Building
Chrome Accents. Zero Confusion
Flying Hippo Design + Digital partnered with Iowa State University on environmental branding for the new 50,000 square foot Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building, which opened in 2025 as a dedicated home for the Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering department.
The project included comprehensive wayfinding signage and a donor recognition space honoring alumni benefactors C.G. “Turk” and Joyce Therkildsen, whose $42 million lead gift helped bring the facility to life. The design integrates chrome accents as a direct nod to Industrial Hard Chrome, the Therkildsens’ company, creating a meaningful connection between personal legacy and academic purpose.
The result supports intuitive navigation while celebrating philanthropy, engineering excellence, and Iowa State’s continued leadership in industrial engineering.
