Springfield’s central business district will get a new look, and residents are asked to weigh in on proposed designs for “gateway” entrance signs and banners, including for the areas around Springfield Plaza, Springfield Town Center and the Franconia-Springfield Metro station.

To see what’s proposed and offer feedback, residents can drop in at the Springfield Town Center’s Community Room on Wednesday, July 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. A short presentation on the designs and locations will be offered at 5 and 6 p.m. Attendees are highly encouraged to watch the presentation before offering their input, although anyone can do so without watching the presentation by taking a short survey that will be available.  RSVPs are also encouraged, although not required.

The community room can be accessed through the main entrance of the Springfield Town Center by taking the escalator to the lower level and entering the hallway next to Claire’s Jewelry. Directions to the room are also available at Guest Services on the lower level, next to Starbucks.

Fairfax County plans to install the signs and banners to help brand Springfield, raising the area’s visibility and reputation as a premier destination to live, work and shop.

Multiple design options will be presented each for four to five possible locations, including:

• Old Keene Mill Road, near Springfield Plaza.
• Backlick Road, near Brookfield Plaza.
• Franconia Road, near Springfield Town Center.
• Frontier Drive, near the Franconia-Springfield Parkway.

Following the event, residents and businesses will also be able to offer feedback through an online survey. 

The civic branding project is a partnership with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Civic Association and Springfield Town Center. To help guide the effort, the partners established a community-based steering committee that includes the Monticello Woods Civic Association, Springvale Civic Association and county staff.

The project came about as result of a study recommending that Springfield’s commercial area would benefit from a unified identity and branding. The project also includes a new logo for the area that was developed last year.  Fairfax County is funding the design, construction and installation for the branding signage, banners and other graphic elements.

County, civic and business leaders are working with Merje, an environmental graphic design and civic branding firm, to create the designs. The final, proposed designs are expected to be completed later this year.

For more information about the project, event registration,  how to take the online survey and reasonable ADA accommodations, visit the Fairfax County Office of Community Revitalization website, or contact Doug Loescher at 703-324-9300, TTY 711.

#  #  #