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?

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?

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?

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?

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.

When signs are a significant part of your life there is no lack of things to look at. I happened to be lying in a lounge chair at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico when I focused on the sign at the top of the building. GNU Group has had the opportunity to solve a number of skyline branding signs and understand their design challenges so I was particularly struck by the way in which the Intercontinental name was displayed.
 
The building’s 15 stories are configured as 16 bays, each one a hotel room. By my eyeball calculations, the space between the top floor and the roof is approximately 10 feet. Within this space, and neatly placed on each of the bays, is an individual letter. In sequence, all 16 bays spell out the Intercontinental name. If my scale is correct, the letters are about 6 feet tall.
 
My mind played with the scenarios that resulted in this compelling solution. Did Intercontinental design the building around the length of their name? Was it dumb luck that Intercontinental inherited a building perfectly suited to display their name? Did management go looking for an acquisition property that could neatly showcase their corporate brand?
 
I imagined the programming session with the architects that articulated the need for a building that would accommodate the brand. I conjured up a  programming meeting that went something like this.
 
Client: “We want to be able to prominently display our name at the top of the building.”

Architect: “That’s a lot of letters. We could do 16  bays of rooms and put a letter above each one. If we double load the corridors we can get 32 rooms per floor. How many rooms were you thinking you need?”

Client: “Probably 400 to 500.”

Architect: “Perfect, we’ll design it 15 stories high. That will give you just the number of rooms in your program and still let us place all of the letters on the skyline.”
 
Could there really have been a scenario where the signage dictated the architectural solution? An environmental graphic designer’s fantasy to be sure, not withstanding the fact that it was a pretty banal building.
 
I was curious enough to ask the concierge about the buildings history but she knew nothing of its origin or the logic behind the sign. So I carry with me the belief that I actually stayed in a building where the signage dictated the architectural solution.
  

They engaged GNU with request for our firm to help them PLAN, DESIGN and IMPLEMENT a comprehensive Donor Recognition program for the newly planned Stadium design by HMC Architects out of Sacramento.

The images below chronicle our PROCESS approach in assisting the Blue & White Foundation along with the Davis Joint Unified School District in navigating through what at times can be a very complicated and detail oriented donor project. GNU would like to especially thank HMC Architects who generously allowed GNU use of their sketch-up models which were critical in the design and marketing aspects of this project.

STEP 1 - Planning is critical to understanding how users will circulate the stadium along with how they will navigate to the various destinations throughout (ie: Main Entry Gate, Concessions, Home/Visitor Bleachers, Various Track and Field functions)

STEP 1 - Define hierarchy of Donor Recognition elements and begin to locate them throughout the Stadium and Stadium Grounds, this sets us up to develop fabrication and installation budgets early on in the process

STEP 2: Begin to develop concepts for Donor Elements such as Main Courtyard identification with Donor and Sponsor opportunities

STEP 2: Developing concepts that begin to step outside a client's perception of what their program should be can be a great way of creating unique Donor Opportunities

STEP 3: We assisted the Blue & White Foundation in helping them "tell their story" in a compelling and professional manner, a comprehensive booklet

STEP 3: It is important to convey your story, we assisted the Blue and White Foundation in honing their message and making sure that it resonated with the right audience - their multi-faceted Donor base

STEP 3: Through the help of HMC Architects we were able to lay in our concepts to their Sketch-up models, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words

STEP 3: A compelling visual that communicates to potential Donors how their name will be recognized within the built environment, we like to think a picture worth a few thousand extra dollars

STEP 4: Where the rubber hits the road, once the program was approved we launched right into our Construction Intent documents, the drawings our fabrication partners will use to construct these Donor Recognition elements

STEP 4: Documentation is key in making sure Donor Elements are produced in a logical and economical fashion, a clear and logical approach to phasing a program can sometimes save our clients thousands of dollars

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.

^ 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.
 

^ 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.

^ 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.

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.

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. 

Meet Cody: Your Future Non-Terrifying Health-care Helper Robot

Regardless of size, if a project is important to you, it’s important to us. Small projects can have large impact — for brand strengthening, corporate image and audience awareness. Whether a one off lobby logo, building monument or retail identification, each gets the same careful planning, creative design and exacting implementation as our largest projects.

Below is a collection of images highlighting just a few of the MANY small projects we have completed for our clients. Tell us what you think!

Custom fixture handles / CLIENT: DIGG

Lobby Identification with concrete pedestal / CLIENT: LeHigh Hanson

Corporate Office Identification / CLIENT: Red Envelope

Office Identification / CLIENT: Trachtenberg Architects

Project Information Kiosk / CLIENT: Avalon Bay Communities

Corporate Building Address / CLIENT: Thoratec

Info Center Identification / CLIENT: City of San Francisco

Resort Amenity Identification / CLIENT: Resort Developer

Lobby Identification / CLIENT: United Labor Bank & Interform

Office Identification / CLIENT: Tria Beauty & Reloconnect

Residential Identification / CLIENT: Union Property Capital & MBH Architects

Medical Office Building Site Sculpture / CLIENT: Kaiser Permanente

Office Property Identification / CLIENT: HARSCH Properties

Westfield SF, Restaurant Identification / CLIENT: Bistro Burger

Retail Monument Identification / CLIENT: Berkeley CCFCU

Lobby Identification / CLIENT: ACLU Nor-Cal & Trachtenberg Architects

Lobby Identification / CLIENT: 033 Asset Management

Residential Identification / CLIENT: Emerald Fund & Mark Horton Architecture

140 S. Van Ness Addressing / CLIENT: The Sprincin Companies

CLICK HERE TO READ THE PROFILE 

The following two articles caught our attention in their ability to greatly and positively impact the the lives of sight impaired individuals. Both strengthening and maintaining the independence of the sight impaired.

What is an interesting observation is the difference between the two resources. One is a simple tool that has been utilized by man for centuries and the other embraces technology through hand held devices that continue to revolutionize how we live our lives. Enjoy, both are very interesting and worth the time to review. Drop us a line to tell us what you think.

KQED QUEST: Tactile Maps for the Blind / Audio Presentation

SATH Society for Accessible Travel & hospitality: Click And Go Audio Maps / Article

If you missed it, click on following link to listen to the edited version – no commercials!

Runs 36 minutes. Edited KNBR GNU Interview