UC Davis Arboretum & Public Garden » Wayfinding

More campus building monument signs in place

Katie Hetrick — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:20:04 +0000

The building monument signage pilot project continues to move forward with a new sign in place outside the Art Building and another commemorating the renaming of one of the largest lecture halls on campus from Chem 194 to Peter A. Rock Hall. For the typography buffs out there you may notice that the font has changed from our pilot sign which now resides outside Cruess Hall (see photo here) to the latest and final renditions. The overall consensus found that the new and non-italicized version was easier to read. You may also notice that street names have been added below the address number in an effort to clarify the purpose of the number. (These addresses have been included to facilitate emergency services' locating of our campus buildings in the event of a crisis.) Discover more about the implementation and history of this project here. Discover more about the Slant Step, the history of the "Funk Movement" and its link to UC Davis here.

Visitor map improvement project underway

Katie Hetrick — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:30:33 +0000

The typical "newbie-to-UC Davis" experience is on the way to a major revamp. Large maps like the mock-up you see above will be placed at key locations throughout campus giving a much-needed hand to the millions of visitors our campus receives every year. We’ve all been there before. You’ve reached your destination at UC Davis with the address of “One Shields Avenue,” but you need to get to Freeborn Hall, Aggie Stadium or the emergency clinic at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital. Now what? It used to be that you might stumble upon a knowledgeable native who could help, but only after a moment of befuddlement and frustration at your impossible mission. Or, you might notice one of the campus’s low-profile visitor maps that were not only difficult to find but next to impossible to maintain. Credit goes to UC Davis Conference and Event Services staff whose ingenuity enabled our campus to keep its’ ubiquitous print map by selling space on it to advertisers. After a couple years of success offsetting those costs, they are tackling the cost and upkeep of our new outdoor map stands by engaging in multiple partnerships with local businesses. (Note that the currently blank gray square boxes seen on one side are actually placeholders for potential advertisers.) Thanks also goes to UC Davis Reprographics for a design that is consistent with other wayfinding improvements throughout campus (Read more here.); UC Davis Civil and Industrial Services which constructed this full-size mock-up, is helping test the size and placement of the permanent installation, and working with the manufacturer to design and build the framework for permanent installation; as well as a crew from Grounds and Landscape Services that worked to remove the old stands to make way for the new.

TAPS leads visitor-friendly service campaign

Katie Hetrick — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:10:31 +0000

As the largest of all the UC campuses we have a responsibility to help our visitors find their destinations and feel welcome. To support this need our campus Transportation and Parking Services has taken the lead in helping visitors right from our parking lots by offering campus maps at entry and exit points and well-placed signage to inform visitors they can use their smart phones for walking directions and receive complimentary motorist assistance services should the need arise. These visitor-friendly services are currently being piloted in the Mondavi Center parking lot.

Campus wayfinding improvements

Katie Hetrick — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:25:15 +0000

Existing UC Davis wayfinding signage is confusing and does little to market the university, its academic programs, or mission of teaching, research and public service. Campus Planning and Community Resources staff is developing a comprehensive wayfinding plan which will include approximately 11 different types of signs to lead community members and visitors from streets to parking lots, and from parking lots to buildings. A team from Repro Graphics, Grounds and Landscape Services, and Civil and Industrial Services is beginning the implementation of this program by updating the building monument signage nearest to visitor destinations. By utilizing our current investment in the existing hardware and modernizing it with the latest printing materials and technologies, these signs will go beyond letting visitors and community members know the names of our buildings. With full-scale implementation of this model, a simple walk across campus will serve a visitor- centered marketing function by communicating compelling stories about our university and the breadth of our academic expertise; these signs also address our campus’s need for a building numbering system that complies with safety regulations.