Formation

713 Music Hall

Overview

Houston, TX
43,000 ft.² renovation

Brief

Design interior signage for a new 5,500-person entertainment venue in downtown Houston. For Live Nation in cooperation with OMA, Powers Brown, and Dot Dash.

Services

Navigation planning, signage and graphic design

Updates
09/07/23
713 Music Hall
Supplemental Messaging
A neon “REST ROOMS” sign inside a wire mesh frame, glowing brightly against a dark background.
A doorway with a sign indicating “200-300 Boxes Kashmir Lounge,” leading to yellow stairs with a metal handrail. The space surrounding the stairs is sleek and modern with metallic walls.
A neon “REST ROOMS” sign inside a wire mesh frame, glowing brightly against a dark background.
A worn concrete column with a metal pipe and a sign indicating “Maximum Occupancy 346 Persons.”
A close-up of a fluted screen with distorted light passing through it, creating a blurred effect against a warm-toned background.
1/5

Restroom identifications, directional messages, occupant load
01/28/22
713 Music Hall
Project Documentation Part 1
A bright yellow stairwell with circular ventilation openings on the wall, leading to an upper level. A sign with directional information is displayed above the stairs.
A neon sign displaying “WC,” enclosed in a transparent box, hanging above a large, coiled ventilation duct.
A close-up of a blue handle with the word “Left” engraved on it.
A yellow-walled hallway with stairs leading up, with a sign indicating directions and room numbers.
A neon “WC” sign hanging from the ceiling, illuminated above a metal grate and black ductwork.
A close-up of a handrail with a reflective number “36.”
A neon “TICKETS” sign lit against a dark background, with a metal mesh gate underneath.
1/7

Completed work for Live Nation with OMA, Dot Dash, and Harvey Builders

Fabricated and installed by GraphTec, Vann Sign & Light, and Innovative Environments

Photographs by Mickey Aloisio
01/28/22
713 Music Hall
Project Documentation Part 2
A translucent surface with the text “Employees must wash hands” visible through it.
A neon “TICKETS” sign lit against a dark background, with a metal gate underneath.
A neon “COATS” sign illuminated against a dark background with a metal grid.
A wall-mounted sign with directional and informational details, including “STAIRK,” “NO ROOF ACCESS,” “1,” “FLOORS 1-3,” “NO RE-ENTRY,” and “EXIT FLOOR 1” with corresponding arrows.
A wall-mounted sign displaying floor and room information: “1. Ground - General Admission,” “2. Welcome - Rio Suite,” and “3. Lounge - Rio Suite.”
A partially open door with a “Staff Only” sign on it, showing part of an interior space with shelves and storage items in the background.
A door with a “NO RE-ENTRY” sign, partially covered by a metal grid on the left side, with a horizontal bar handle.
1/7

Completed work for Live Nation with OMA, Dot Dash, and Harvey Builders

Fabricated and installed by GraphTec, Vann Sign & Light, and Innovative Environments

Photographs by Mickey Aloisio
03/15/21
713 Music Hall
Neon Mockup
A “TICKETS” sign mounted on a metal grid wall, with a ladder positioned beneath it.
A man installing a neon sign on a mesh metal structure.
A lit neon sign spelling "TICKETS" is lit against a dark background with metal mesh.
An empty industrial space with exposed columns, a ladder leaning against a wall, and a faint “NO ENTRY” sign glowing in the distance.
Neon “TICKETS” sign components placed on a work surface, surrounded by tools and parts.
A person in a red shirt holding a coiled metal conduit, standing on a construction site with yellow walls in the background.
A worker wearing a yellow hard hat and a red shirt, using a measuring tape to align a piece of paper template for neon signs on a metallic grid wall.
A "TICKETS" neon sign mounted on a mesh metal during the installation process.
1/9

Bent glass by Dan at True Colors Neon; special implements and installation by Charles at Vann Sign & Light.

—custom tube supports, insulators, and wiring
—mirror blackout paint
03/01/21
713 Music Hall
Material Testing & Mockups
A textured wooden surface with faint, overlapping text “Box Seats Restrooms” displayed across it.
A black directional sign pointing left, labeled “Section 100,” placed on a green textured surface with grid patterns.
1/3

Testing vinyl visibility in darkness
08/27/20
713 Music Hall
Studying: Material Utility
Two black wall-mounted signs displaying the following instructions: “NO SMOKING NO PICTURES” on the top sign, and “DO NOT EXPORT” on the bottom sign.
Two black wall-mounted signs in red lighting displaying the following instructions: “NO SMOKING NO PICTURES” on the top sign, and “PHOSPENES AND ORBS” on the bottom sign.
A long illuminated display table with a sleek metal frame, casting a gradient from red to black light across its surface. The table is placed in an industrial space with weathered brick walls and a small green emergency exit sign visible on the left side.
A close-up view of a sleek illuminated display table with a red-to-black gradient. In the background, a green emergency exit sign is visible on the weathered brick wall, adding to the industrial ambiance.
A close-up view of a green emergency exit sign is visible on the weathered brick wall.
1/5
08/25/20
713 Music Hall
Minecraft Tour of Berghain

Berghain's interior recreated in Minecraft.
08/22/20
713 Music Hall
Studying: Light
A line of people waiting outside a building at night, illuminated by overhead lights.
A ceiling structure with circular perforations and hanging light fixtures, lit with a gradient of pink and blue tones.
A graphic design of a Superstudio project for a nightclub, showing two illustrations. The top image presents a schematic of a complex, multilevel space with various stairs and pathways. The lower image features a similar layout in white lines against a black background, illustrating the design in technical detail.
A dimly lit, foggy interior scene of a nightclub. Silhouetted figures stand in the foreground, with glowing neon lights from a bar visible in the background, casting an orange and red glow through the mist.
A series of illuminated frames on a wall, each displaying text with a combination of red, black, and white lettering, surrounded by a deep red-lit ambiance. The frames appear to contain posters with abstract graphics and text, giving a slightly disordered and artistic feel.
A red neon light mounted on a wall, with the glowing letters “R” and “S” clearly visible. The light is situated above a set of black metal bars from a window.
A group of people dancing under colorful lights, with a bright vertical light feature in the background. The image captures a dynamic and energetic moment in a dark, illuminated space.
A large crowd dancing in a dimly lit space, illuminated by vertical light fixtures. The image captures a lively and energetic atmosphere from a high vantage point in black and white.
An interior view of a nightclub featuring neon lighting, curved railings, and a dramatic architectural design. The space is dimly lit with glowing pink and red lights illuminating the walls and overhead fixtures. The scene exudes a vibrant, energetic atmosphere.
1/9

Exploring the use of light as a wayfinding mechanism in venue spaces. Light can be used (alongside or, oftentimes, instead of signage) to magnetize visitors to specific destinations; to create or reinforce desired paths of travel through a space; or to give sub-spaces unique visual tone. Light in the venue is also often defined by its dynamism, moving and changing in accordance with music.
07/21/20
713 Music Hall
Studying: The Theater
A close-up of a weathered stone archway, with "LII" on top of the arch.
An architectural cross-section of a traditional Elizabethan theater, with various labeled sections such as the “orchestra,” “upper stage,” “main stage,” and “trapdoor.” It shows the tiered seating structure, galleries, and the surrounding areas like the “yard or pit” and “tiring house,” offering insight into the design of the performance space.
A vintage illuminated sign for the “Adams Theatre,” mounted on the exterior of a building. The sign features bold, neon-lit lettering spelling “ADAMS THEATRE,” with a central stylized letter “A” surrounded by decorative detailing, reflecting an early 20th-century design aesthetic.
A historical photograph of three uniformed staff members. On the left, a young man is dressed as an usher in a tuxedo with a bow tie. In the middle, a man is shown as the floor manager, dressed in a black tuxedo with a bow tie. On the right, the chief usher is depicted, also wearing a tuxedo with a bow tie. The three individuals stand in front of a decorative background, with a label under each staff member identifying their role.
A page showing illustrations of hand signals for quick seating, with labels for various units and instructions for their use, such as “Units One and Four” and “Units Two and Five.”
A detailed cross-sectional illustration of a large architectural structure, showing various levels and spaces such as the theater area, office building, fan booth, and roof garden, with labels pointing to specific features like elevators, balconies, and roads surrounding the building.
1/6

Exploring how wayfinding and way-showing mechanisms have evolved in the theater.
05/18/20
713 Music Hall
Announcement of Work

FORMATION will design wayfinding and signage for a new music venue set to open in downtown Houston in 2021.

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