Archive for the ‘Implementation’ Category

GNU’s Sign Profile Analysis™

August 25th, 2010
by Phil Murphy

The Sign Profile Analysis™, is the first step in a comprehensive process that we call the Sign System Navigator™. It defines all of the requirements for creating a complete signage program including how to incorporate branding, the wayfinding strategy, the project needs, sign hierarchy, messages, locations, quantities and much more. The following are among the many issues that are resolved during the SPA™.

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FUNCTION: how signs provide direction, information and identification to make environments easy to understand and navigate.
What’s the wayfinding strategy?
How many message types?
How many signs?
Where do they go?

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AESTHETICS: how signs contribute to the visual vibrancy of the environment with appropriate expression of forms, materials and graphics.
What are the architectural, interior, landscape and other environmental features that should influence design?

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COMPLIANCE: how the design solution assures that facilities meet all code and ordinance requirements.
What are the codes and ordinances that need to be met?
Who are the jurisdictions and agencies that need to pass judgment?

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OPERATIONS: how the system design will accommodate the initial costs, life cycle, maintenance, sustainability, changeability and other practical considerations.
Who will install?
Who will maintain?
How often do things change?
How long do they need to last?
Can they be ‘green’?
Can they be changed in house?
What’s the reorder process?

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IMAGE/BRANDING/MARKETING: how signs support the client’s brand and visual identity.
How will you present your brand?
How will the signs contribute to marketing?

As we work through theses issues for you, we establish budget estimates. We identify a high & low price for what each sign type might cost. Add them up and you are in a position to know exactly where you want to go to add value to your property and maximize your users/ customer experience.

We take this approach because, like a house or a car, the cost depends on the details. When we’re done with SPA™ our client’s have everything they need to know to make informed decisions about allocating budgets and how to deal with preconstruction issues in order to avoid costly change orders.

Our next step is to design to the criteria established in the SPA™. We can guarantee that the cost of the signs will meet the budget. How do we do that? Well, we’ve been at this for 40 years, we know what things costs. We have great fabrication partners that we turn to when we need additional confirmation of prices and you’ve given us the direction we need to be strategic in our creativity.

And the insight to produce a targeted, creative and highly functional solution and the result is signage that precisely meets your needs.

Posted in Branding, Design, GNU Culture, Implementation, Wayfinding | No Comments »

Resourceful

April 13th, 2010
by Dickson Keyser

A lot of our new projects are renovations or adaptive reuse of existing environments. When planning for these opportunities our first question is always, “If this was our money, how would we spend it?”

Designers launching these types of projects too often take the position, “out with the old and in with the new”. But that’s not always the most prudent way to shepherd our client’s money… or to act environmentally responsible.

Taking a property and infusing it with new life can involve major structural and architectural efforts or, in the absence of large budgets and access to financing, more pragmatic solutions.
 
GNU has a long history of working with owners and managers to bring projects current. We’ve helped make retail, commercial, residential, education, medical and hospitality properties more attractive and relevant. In all cases the common denominator in any renovation or re-use initiative is to start by deciding what stays and what goes.
 
In the re-imaging process, anything that can be preserved and reused means resources can be maximized.  Money can be saved and the impact on the environment can be minimized.
 
Three recent projects offer a demonstration of what is possible when one is committed to preserving what’s already there.

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^ CADENCE
RMW Architecture & Interiors tapped GNU to assist in upgrading Cadence’s campus-wide sign program. Beyond a new 5 story headquarters building being developed, Cadence had recently completed a Brand Identity change that needed to be reflected within the sign program that brought identity to the site and assisted both vehicular traffic as well as pedestrian traffic navigating across the campus. Early on in the planning process GNU identified several of the main monument IDs as being ideal to reuse rather than replace – saving Cadence a considerable amount of money in demo, fabrication and installation costs.
 
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^ BRIDGEPOINT PARKWAY
GNU Group worked with Jones Lange LaSalle to assist in re-branding the former Siebel Systems corporate campus. The corporate branded exterior sign system was updated to a multi-tenant system for the revamped Bridgepointe Parkway. Cost-efficiency was key by retrofitting the existing structures for this three-building campus. All planning and turnkey execution, including city work and interior system changeover for lobby directory and suite tenant signs, was also included in the scope of work.

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^ HACIENDA LAKES
The GNU Group worked with HARSCH Investment Properties to redevelope and strengthen the identification and wayfinding experience for this multiple entry/address property located in Pleasanton. A softer less corporate look and feel was established by the identity and color palette selection. The GNU Group also took a cost-sensitive approach in working with existing concrete support structures, refraining from having to demo and ultimately saving HARSCH tens of thousands of dollars.

Have you been involved with the re-imaging or upgrade of a corporate campus or office property? Have you been really resourceful with your client’s dollars and proud of it? If so, tell us about how you approached your assignment, we’d enjoy hearing about it.

Posted in Branding, Design, Green Design, Implementation | No Comments »

From the Archive: Staying Power

April 10th, 2010
by Rich Burns

Advertisement courtesy of Pacific Sun, Marin County Weekly

I opened up the local paper today and found an ad for our local community college that showcases a photo of the entry monument to the campus. The sign is part of the very first sign program the GNU Group ever designed. The year was 1972 and the system was an early contribution to the professional discipline of signage design and environmental graphics. That the same sign is still standing (they did change the name of the campus from Indian Valley Colleges to College of Marin) is surely testament to something, although we’re not sure exactly what.

Original Entry Sign, Circa 1972

The technology of the times was not particularly advanced and the budgets were pretty slim. Our design goals for the program were to create a system that integrated with the surrounding environment, landscape and street furniture, reflected the natural character of the buildings and that was inexpensive and simple to build and change.

The signs are redwood frames with acrylic insert panels mounted on 6” diameter posts. The copy was applied with vinyl letters. Implementing the program gave us our first experience with controlling the bid process. The College included our sign package in the general contractor’s contract. Contractors back then had no clue how to price a sign program so they simply submitted a number that they thought would ‘cover it.” The price was 2 to 3 times what we had estimated and that caused some real problems. We convinced the College to separate the sign package from the general contract. We learned how to procure parts and pieces and I even remember personally bolting frames and poles together to make the program happen.

Technology has changed and we are a lot smarter, but there is a lot about that process that informed how we manage the implementation of our current work, including having our own capabilities to install programs.

I recall estimating that the signs should have a lifespan of 10 years. Thirty-eight years later many of the signs are still standing. We had a similar experience with the wayfinding sign program we did for Stanford University in the early 80s. Our design called for porcelain enamel panels which we explained would last ‘forever.” The University opted instead for MDO plywood in an attempt to save on initial costs. Tour the Stanford today and you’ll be guided by those same signs, installed almost 30 years ago. 

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Posted in GNU Archives, Implementation | No Comments »

BGI to BlackRock:
Skyline Rebranding Step by Step

December 30th, 2009
by Dickson Keyser

IMG_8403smChanging out a skyline sign on a 7 story building is never really an easy task. Changing out a skyline sign on a 7 story tall glass curtain wall is enough to make any sign fabricator lay awake at night. Oh and the same rules apply, no penetrating the glass.

When BlackRock acquired Barclays Global Investors, they tapped GNU to assist them on the rebranding effort for BGI’s (19) sites around the globe. And it all needed to be done by December 1st 2009. That gave GNU roughly two months time for planning, design, documentation and implementation for the entire program.

The most labor intensive change-over occurred at BGI’s former Headquarters at Foundry Square, in downtown San Francisco. With ADART having assisted us in the production and install of the original BGI skyline they were our natural go-to partner for this assignment as well.

Terry long of ADART immediately crafted a plan of attack for the removal of the old BGI skyline and install of the new BlackRock skyline sign. One might think it was a simple 2-3 step process. Think again.

ORIG_BGIInstall_IMG_3Below is the outlined, step by step process that was required to pull off this project successfully, with (2) 12 hour shifts a day and all around the Thanksgiving Holiday:

Tue Nov 24  — First Shift
Install  the 3M temporary vinyl reading “Barclays Global Investors”. Disconnect  the electrical to the letters and remove the letters from the aluminum backings.

Tue Nov 24 –  Second Shift
Continue the scoring and removal of aluminum backing

Wed Nov 25 — First Shift
Remove the remaining letters  and remove all letters from the 400 Howard St premise.  Remove the vinyl from the interior of the glass  curtain wall that shields the 3M adhesive connection from the inside. Continue to  remove the aluminum

Wed Nov 25 — Second  Shift
Continue to remove the aluminum backing in one foot squares using  the special tools

Thur Nov 26 – THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Fri Nov 27 — First  Shift
Continue to remove aluminum backings

Fri Nov  27  — Second Shift
Continue to remove aluminum  backings

Sat Nov 28 — First Shift
Begin to remove the 3M adhesive

Sat Nov 28 — Second Shift
Complete removal of the 3M adhesive. Apply the 3M Saline solution to clean the glass in preparation for applying the 3M VHB adhesive

Sun Nov 29 — First Shift and only shift
Apply the 3M VHB Tape and  aluminum backer for the BlackRock letters and begin installation of the Black Rock letters

Mon Nov 30  — First Shift
Complete the installation of the BlackRock  letters. Connect the electrical to each letter and test the illumination.

Mon Nov 30 — Second Shift
Install the new vinyl on the inside of the glass curtain wall to shield the 3M adhesive connection of the letters

Tue Dec 1  — First Shift and only shift
Remove the temporary vinyl reading “Barclays Global Investors”, flick the switch for early morning illumination and official Day 1 integration

Install_IMG_1Install_IMG_2A HUGE thanks to ADART and their team of extremely professional and knowledgeable fabrication and install staff. A clear proven case that anything can be done with the right partners.

And a HUGE thanks to Kanan Jayachandran, GNU’s Program Manager that saw this assignment through to the end and was constantly in contact with our client no matter what timezone!

Posted in Design, Implementation, News | 2 Comments »