Silverado Ranch DMV

DMV buildings fulfill a singularly unique role in the State of Nevada. They are the one place in which every resident of the State must physically visit at least once during their residency – whether to obtain a new driver’s license or ID card, or to register a car. In this sense, DMV buildings carry the burden of likely being the single interaction-point that a resident may have with a State agency. In this sense, they represent the State of Nevada.

The thought of a visit to the DMV, for many, elicits feelings of angst, frustration, impatience, and no little anxiety. The physical space in which these feelings manifest themselves, then, must aim to reduce anxiety, calm the heart, and encourage its users to just breathe.

Efforts to reduce confusion and thus anxiety begin at the street with signage clearly identifying the facility, drives that align customers with entrances so they have an understanding of where they need to go to begin their processes. These are accompanied by clearly delineated queuing spaces for services offered by the agency. Calming strategies such as the use of daylight and views to the sky, natural materials, wayfinding devices, and gentle curves feature prominently in the lobby space. Displacement ventilation and acoustical treatment provide further strategies for creating a quiet, casual, comfortable environment for waiting customers.