Oro Dam Constructors (ODC) was a collective of multiple construction companies who banded together to create the Oroville Dam, located in Oroville, CA. Construction started in 1957 and ended by 1967 with a dam that towered to 770 feet, claiming the title of the tallest dam in the U.S. To this day, the Oroville Dam provides water to the majority of southern California. Due to the sheer scale of the project, ODC created their own single-line railroad that was used to ship equipment and materials to and from the construction site. I took on this rebrand as a means to revitalize the history and bring awareness to the massive achievement that was made within my own hometown.
ODC train #8015
Rotary dumper delivering aggregate
Original design for ODC's "Two-Hat Railroad"
The ODC rail line got the nickname, "The Two-Hat Railroad," due to the fact that it was comprised of both construction workers and rail workers who collaborated in tandem of one another. The train ran 24 hours a day, six days a week, for four years with northbound and southbound trains alternating down to the minute on the single rail line.
ODC Logo Concepts
It would have been imperative for ODC's logo to be distinguishable from an array of other companies who had their stakes in the project, so visibility was paramount during the initial sketching phases.
Oro Dam Constructors Logo
By using basic geometry and an acronym to represent "Oro Dam Constructors," the utilitarian nature is preserved. Efficiency, effectiveness, strength and longevity are all reflected within the mark by way of symmetry and basic shapes.
The sturdiness and stability of the mark was achieved by utilizing negative space and perfect circles.
ODC secondary logo, used primarily for printed collateral
Front of time table and construction site map pamphlet
Back of time table and construction site map pamphlet
Company stationary and printed collateral mirror the same themes of stability and utilitarianism. The dashed line motif is used throughout to echo railroad tracks and engineering plan drawings, both of which are facets of the business.
Embroidered patch for overcoat uniforms
Employee uniforms in both white and safety orange
The use of orange ensures that the mark would not be lost when placed upon uniforms or equipment, while the subtle use of black and white ensures the transferability of the mark when placed upon different backgrounds and environments.
ODC logo on an open-top hopper rail car, which would have been used to carry and dump materials from the site