An exterior signage and wayfinding master plan project is underway to make the Brighton Campus and Applied Technologies Center more accessible and user-friendly for motorists and pedestrians and support a more pleasant experience for students and visitors.
The Facilities Department, along with nationally recognized wayfinding consultant Cloud Gehshan Associates and local architectural firm Bergmann Associates, has been working with over 50 members of the college community since early last year to identify problem areas and plan improvements. A steering committee headed by Paul Wurster from Facilities has been overseeing efforts.
The goals for improving the wayfinding experience are as follows:
1) Enhance visitor information on the college website
2) Clearly identify and welcome visitors to campus by marking the edges
3) Establish a clear name and design strategy for all entrances
4) Introduce a comprehensive vehicular directional sign system
5) Identify which buildings and departments parking lots serve
6) Introduce a comprehensive pedestrian orientation and directional sign system
7) Improve the campus map as a major tool of campus wayfinding
8) Use building names as the primary identifier instead of the numbering system
The Cloud Gehshan consultants held information gathering workshops with stakeholder focus groups representing Admissions, faculty, students, Athletics, Campus Events, Public Safety, Parking, Marketing and Community Relations, Web Development, the MCC Association, the MCC Foundation, Residence Life, Economic Development and Innovative Workforce Services, Services for Students with Disabilities and the Sustainability Committee.
Meetings were held in March to present the draft plan to President Kress, steering committee members, and focus group participants.
Work on the project is divided into four steps: Programming, Schematic Design, Design Development, and Final Plan.
We are currently in the final stages of Schematic Design. Several design concepts have been presented and we are awaiting budget projections. Results of the study will be shared with the campus community when the final plan is set.
Throughout the information gathering process, we have heard many comments regarding the need to improve our internal signage and wayfinding strategies as well. Please know that when the External Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan is complete, we will turn our attention to internal signage in Phase II. Additionally, the concepts and approaches in the External Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan will be applied to our new Downtown Campus as well.
Paul Wurster
Facilities
04/06/2016 |