Seeking to increase the quality of their ‘customer experience’ while reducing costs, La Clínica has engaged GNU to develop a integrated wayfinding, environmental branding and signage standards program for all of their facilities.

“The complexity of the many locations and the diversity of the clientele mean thoroughly understanding staff and customer behavior is crucial to any programming or design,” explains Phil Murphy, GNU’s President/CEO and head of the firm’s Healthcare Group. “We start by engaging the stakeholders through interviews, electronic questionnaire and focus groups to fully appreciate the challenges and needs.”

Input from this research forms the basis for planning and programming, including appointment, pre-arrival materials, web site facility maps, integrated wayfinding strategy, common nomenclature and vocabulary, SIGN hierarchy, languages, procurement, financial criteria and process.

GNU will utilize our GNU Sign Standards Advantage™ process for La Clínica. The SSA™ is our proprietary approach to institutionalizing signage programs for large users who have expanding and/or recurring planning and sourcing requirements. As part of the SSA™, GNU will conduct an outreach to qualified sign fabricators with the goal of establishing a long term, single source for all of La Clínica’s signage needs. “Single source responsibility has proven to save our clients a little over 30% in planning and procurement costs,” says Dickson Keyser, GNU’s Director of Design.

This gala event is a time to celebrate Hanna’s successes and thank supporters.

Left: Ribbon cutting for the new Admissions and Alumni Building & Hanna Legacy Center. Right: GNU’s Derick Lazaro at the Hanna "Fund-A-Need".

This year GNU had a place in the festivities. The event unveiled a complex of new facilities including a Multi-Use Auditorium, the Admissions and Alumni Building, and the Hanna Legacy Center. The Legacy Center is the prime location to recognize the generosity of the school’s many supporters. GNU designed the Donor Recognition display, a glass and metal construction inspired by the dramatic stained glass windows in Hanna’s Chapel. Donors are acknowledged on individual etched glass panels. The display appears in a glass alcove flooded with natural backlight.

The Hanna Boys Center Donor Recognition Display

Hanna also used the development of the new facilities as an opportunity to implement a new campus wayfinding and signage program for the campus. The Sonoma County environs provide the context and defined the natural approach to form and materials that fit the landscape.

New wayfinding signage

GNU congratulates Hanna Boys Center for their most successful ever Evening with the All-Stars.

Before and After

Integrated Wayfinding means visitor orientation is provided through multiple communications tools including appointment cards, websites, environmental cues, person-to-person interaction, and above all signs. The new signage at St Mary’s uses an approach known as Progressive Disclosure. Progressive Disclosure presents only the information needed to move from one decision point to the next.

A key aspect of signage within a Progressive Disclosure program is alpha-numeric designation of buildings, departments and rooms. Letters and numbers simplify the information that must be remembered. It also facilitates multi-lingual comprehension.

Other program criteria for the new signs included a limited budget that required recycling the exiting signs, quick turnaround, incorporating the Catholic Healthcare West and St. Mary’s brand identities, and gaining the approval of the Hospital’s many stakeholders.

Progressive Disclosure in St. Mary

Each New Year is a time for inspiration, motivation and all manner of resolution.
Some of the GNU’s took a moment to
reflect on the year ahead.

A trip to Europe with Tracy,
PHIL MURPHY
Personally: A trip to Europe with Tracy, vacations with our 3 children and five beautiful grandchildren.

Professionally: Expand our Southern California work and continue to educate the marketplace about our Sign Profile Analysis™, GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding and sign program challenges for our clients. Nurture GNU’s Explicit Culture™ and GNU’s future leadership. GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding and sign program

ART BARELA
Personally: Spending more time touching the hearts, minds and memories of my children & grandchildren; painting, drawing, writing & getting published; making my way back out to the soccer pitch; taking time to pause, ponder and appreciate as many views & visions as are still mine to absorb.

Professionally: Expand the GNU Southern Cal competitive edge, building new partnership with like minded So Cal thought leaders in architecture, development and the building industry. Grow GNU Southern Cal into a significant, prominent and sustaining resource. GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding

VICTOR BECERRA
Personally: Get In better shape, eat healthier and take a nice vacation.

Professionally: Help to grow the GNU installation department. Learn as much as I can from my colleagues to help me grow in the role of director of field services.GNU’s streamlined process for

LEYNA BOOKIN
Personally: Practice & improve my sewing skills. Go camping. Travel out of the country. Take yoga. Do more cooking. See as much live music as possible.

Professionally: Fine tune e our contracting & billing processes to meet the ever evolving needs of our clients. GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding and sign

RICH BURNS
Personally: Continue my swimming adventures and playing with my grandson.

Professionally: Enjoy my emeritus role at GNU by being an engaged, stimulated participant and making a contribution to our ongoing success. GNU’s streamlined process for

HOWARD CURTIS
Personally: Travel more and tour new places with my family. Rediscover creat¬ing art with traditional methods and mediums including more sketching – I have 10 notebooks to fill.

Professionally: Continuing learning on the path of design and defining and digitizing the firm’s vast knowledge base and reference collections, and sustained exploration in the digital wayfinding field. GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding

ABNER DAVID
Personally: Play more sports instead of just watching. Even better…play more sports with my 2 young daughters.

Professionally: Continue to streamline GNU’s Health Care Studio program management that provide our clients with pain free solutions! GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding and sign program challenges

LEILA FLORES
Personally: Volunteering every week to teach self development classes that inspire and motivating people to reach their potential. Grow/expand my physical fitness program for women. Help expand our E-Soccer programs (coaching special needs children from 3 to 12 years old) through Bay Area Christian Church.

Professionally: Continue to work with GNU’s IT consultants and grow our internal IT capabilities. Maximize my potential by taking on more challenging responsibilities. GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding and sign program challenges for our clients.

SARAH KATSIKAS
Personally: Looking forward to attending multiple weddings this year and feelin’ the love; cross-country visit to my best friend who recently moved to DC; and my husband and my much anticipated bi-annual trip to Hawaii.

Professionally: Continue to tighten up the progression and finessing of GNU’s breakthrough programming of replacement healthcare projects. Creating more collaborative and fun events as the co-chair of SEGD:SF along w/ fellow GNU Lauren Kelly. GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding and sign

LAUREN KELLY
Personally: Learn to cook better and taking time off for a trip to Europe.

Professionally: Continue to develop the Surveyor App and other new tools for environmental graphic design programming. GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding and

DICKSON KEYSER
Personally: Greater focus on gardening, brewing, showing photography, riding bike to work, surf days and hiking with the family.

Professionally: Grow GNU’s Donor Recognition practice through continued work with exceptional educational and healthcare clients. GNU’s streamlined process for solving GNU’s streamlined process for solving

DERICK LAZARO
Personally: Focus more on music, writing, teaching my daughter how to ride her bike and family trips.

Professionally: Become more involved in documenting our finished work. Continue to better understand fabrication techniques, provide design leadership, try not to worry provide design leadership, t..so much.
GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding

KIRK MILLER
Personally: Enjoy domesticity including gardening, brewing, basketball and riding my bike.

Professionally: Keep the GNU administrative ‘machine’ well oiled and running efficiently, for our team and our clients. GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding and

VICTOR VITALE
Personally: Set aside sufficient time for enriching and educating my children, finishing the remodel on our home, and improving and learning our winemaking endeavor.

Professionally: Continue to grow and enrich my client base, improve internal and external processes for communication, planning, and meeting expectations and grow in areas that have previously been beyond my reach. GNU’s streamlined process for solving wayfinding and

The signs were spread throughout 8 buildings and over 2 million square feet. GNU has considerable experience with these types of surveys. We’ve conducted them for Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Catholic Healthcare West, John Muir Health and others. We would dispatch a team armed with cameras, tape measures, plan drawings, laptops and note paper. We would return with piles of documentation. Photos keyed to drawings. Notes scribbled on plans. The most progressive would even dictate their observations. But managing in the field was tedious, and correlating and collating the results was like assembling a gigantic jig-saw puzzle.

Before joining GNU I spent years in the world of web and database design. I knew there had to be a way technology could help manage the complexity of the project. I’d developed small-scale mobile applications in the past and realized this was a perfect opportunity to merge database functionalities with the massive amount of data (19,476 photos and 75 gigabytes) we acquired during the survey.

Surveyor allows on screen input of all information. At TJUH one chooses
from 8 buildings and 120 floors, touches the correct location
on the plan and picks one of the 40 sign types in the program.

gigabytes) we acquired during the survey.
When I suggested that a survey application for the iPhone could incorporate all of the data gathering functions for the survey in one place, GNU’s management team encouraged me to make it happen. In reasonably short order I was able to produce a viable beta version of what I call Surveyor. With some field testing and a little refinement we had a working program. A trip to the Apple store for a handful of iPhones later, we were ready to go. Sarah from GNU and I were being assisted by a few people from exi;t in Philadelphia, our partners on the TJUH project. I hoped the App would prove as easy and intuitive as I envisioned when designing it so that everyone could grasp its functionality and be immediately productive.

Surveyor exceeded our expectations. Each location was as simple as taking a few photos and typing in measurements and notes. Clicking on the building and floor produced a pre-loaded plan. Touch the location and all information is linked. All we had to do was repeat this 10,000 times.

Once back in the office, we reviewed the photos and locations to identify missing signs or those to be removed. Modifying data in a multi-table database (rather than dots in Illustrator™ and records in Filemaker™), meant we could automatically generate all documentation. Any edits are instantly updated. Delete a location and the associated signs are removed. Version control or signs without locations are a non-issue since the information is linked in the database. We knew Surveyor would save time but the accuracy of the program could be its major benefit.

We’re making a few refinements and when given our next assignment, Surveyor 2.0 will be ready to go.

Phil Murphy, GNU’s President and CEO, points to Lauren’s initiative as a prime example of the power of GNU’s culture of thought leadership, creative design solutions and pain free project management.

Brian Wilson entertains 6000 attendees at ULI’s Fall Meeting reception.

The meeting combines keynote speeches, educational breakout sessions, mobile tours, a trade show, entertainment with plenty of opportunities for networking and socializing. The general sessions addressed universal issues including the state of the world, the economy, capital markets with plenty of awards and recognition for great projects and industry movers and shakers (Eli Broad, Don Bren). A stirring shout out to Los Angeles and the downtown redevelopment of the LA Live entertainment district (site of the meeting) was followed by a nostalgic outdoor concert featuring Brian Wilson and his reconstitution of the Beach Boys.

Presentation of the 2011 ULI Global Awards for Excellence

The short answers to some of these key concerns:

Capital – money is still difficult to come by. Few projects are getting funded even though here is a tremendous amount of capital sitting on the sidelines. Apartments are the hot property type although there are some who are already warning of the pending ‘apartment bubble.’ There were strong feelings that real estate is currently a low risk investment that will yield above average returns, providing one can purchase without leverage, has little need for cash flow and considerable patience. There was also consensus that interest rates will rise and locking in at today’s rates is prudent.

Changing Demographics – keynote speaker Michael Milliken cited the fact that of the top ten surnames of people who bought homes in California last year, all were Asian or Hispanic as his way of emphasizing the dramatic demographic transformation taking place. Every presentation was laced with statistics about ethnic composition and generational changes and the implications for housing, technology, healthcare, employment and the spectrum of other changes occurring in the country.

Government – while the public presentations were largely void of political posturing, the frustration with dysfunctional government was omnipresent. Behind the scenes, railing about the paralysis and lack of political will was everywhere. Robert Gates, recently departed Secretary of Defense, gave the final address and was perhaps the most outspoken about the failures of our current representatives and their unwillingness to tackle the tough issues. He was clear that the problems are not lost on anyone but that the parties are so entrenched in catering to the extremes that they cannot moderate their behavior.

Employment and Housing – all discussion of these problems echoed what is common knowledge. By a show of hands, the audience unanimously recognized jobs as the seminal problem impacting real estate. Housing must still work off its enormous surplus and that continues to be a long way off.

When Will Things Get Better – in 2009 when we reported on the ULI Meeting, the projection for recovery was 36 to 48 months. We are now 24 months into that time frame. Prognosticators have mostly capitulated on assigning dates and are just telling us we have awhile to go. Most cited the uncertainty of the 2012 election as the reason decisions are being slowed and voiced real anxiety of the implications, regardless of who takes office.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

One cannot help but be impressed with the competency and sophistication of the members of ULI. These are accomplished and highly intelligent people who understand the nuances and complexity of the very difficult issues that face both the industry and the country. They even posture plausible solutions to the challenges of the times. And while many enjoy positions of influence and power, like so many others, this group also appears powerless to affect the degree of change necessary to make things better. They do however give pause for hope.

Despite the demographic proclamation on ULI’s 75th anniversary that the future clearly resides with ULI members under 50, Brian Wilson and his reincarnation of the Beach Boys was clearly most appreciated by the many aging boomers. Like much of the rest of the meeting, promoting Los Angeles was in your face and what says Southern California more than the Beach Boys? So despite the cloud that continues to overhang the country and the real estate world, this is a group that has learned patience, survival and still knows how to enjoy themselves.

The Fall Meeting is always a great opportunity to reconnect with our friends and network and affirm GNU Group’s continuing participation in this exciting industry.

He was one of a few people responsible for organizing the professional discipline of signage, wayfinding and environmental graphics when in 1974, he participated in the founding of the Society for Environmental Graphic Design (www.SEGD.org). In the early days GNU hosted the organization in our office and devoted considerable resources to bringing it to life. Rich served as president for a number of years and was selected as one of SEGD’s first fellows. When the firm made environmental graphic design the mainstay of our practice, Rich’s design and programming skills were paramount.

I’ve heard Rich describe his current role at GNU as having a little responsibility and no authority. While I disagree with that assessment, I think he means that he now gets to focus his capabilities on projects, clients and in helping tell the firm’s story. After more than 20 years of total responsibility for the business side of the firm, he says, “relinquishing the financial, personnel and administrative functions of the practice is a wonderful gift and I recommend it highly.”

Rich’s backstroke start at World Championships

This brief tribute is one simple way that I can say thanks for the wonderful firm Rich created and the opportunity he has given me to carry on the firm’s legacy.

What is a Pre-Engineered Wayfinding System?

Pre-Engineered Wayfinding Systems are comprehensive programs that provide all directional and life safety signs for any parking facility. The systems offer attractive graphics that are highly legible. All facilities are individually programmed to solve all wayfinding and code compliance issues. Pre-Engineered systems reduce planning and delivery time, maximize procurement dollars, utilize cost efficient/high value manufacturing methodologies and provide great looking solutions that enhance the facilities brand and above all, save time and money.

The components of a Pre-Engineered Wayfinding system have already been designed (with the ability to be customized through typography and color selection to meet the project’s design brand and aesthetic). All components are documented with detailed construction drawings. We partner with major sign companies for fabrication and installation.

The Bottom Line

Client’s save time and money on design and drawings that are already complete. They save with our leveraged purchasing power through pricing guarantees for 3 years on fabrication and installation. Clients appreciate the options and control GNU’s Pre-Engineered systems allow for managing signage and wayfinding in their facilities.

Any parking facility developer or manager responsible for traffic flow and code compliance issues can now look to the Pre-Engineered approach.

The Russ Building is a 1927, Neo-Gothic high rise. While we generally think of LEED in association with new projects, retrofitting an 80 year old structure demonstrates that sustainable design can be ubiquitous.

Forty percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the building and construction industries. Electricity for lighting and appliances, energy for heating and air conditioning and energy-consuming equipment are all part of the problem. ClimateWorks used the design of their space to demonstrate ways to mitigate the impact of these emission sources and to showcase sustainable building materials and techniques.

GNU is gratified to have played a role in helping ClimateWorks offices achieve LEED-Platinum certification for Commercial Interiors with the third highest LEED point total ever awarded.

In addition to signage that orients visitors and complies with applicable codes, we met the LEED requirements to provide education about sustainable design. We created a program of information nodes that explain the green design solutions incorporated throughout the ClimateWorks environment. These info nodes were produced and printed on Bio-board, a 100% recyclable product with a 63% post consumer waste content. (http://www.plyveneer.com/bioboard.html)

GNU also took great care in the design of the main lobby ID. The wood chosen for construction is Forest Stewardship Council Certified and the paints applied were spec’d as low VOC. Fabrication and as many components as possible were sourced locally.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CLIMATEWORKS LEED DISPLAY BOOKLET

This guide is provided to ClimateWorks’ visitors to explain the LEED improvements within the Foundation’s renovated offices. Once the self-guided tour is complete, the guide is returned so it can be reused. The binder is made with 100% recyclable materials, covers and metal rings can be easily recycled. http://www.rebinder.com

And to finish things off for ClimateWorks, GNU assisted in getting their LEED Platinum glass plaque installed. Having worked on previous LEED projects we advised ClimateWorks to back the glass plaque with a colored backer for better visibility. While the plaques (provided by USGBC) themselves are beautiful they can be hard to read against light colored walls.

“Your team really understood our mission and approach and have supported us well with your collaboration and creativity. We are especially appreciative of your responsiveness to our needs and schedule.”

Mary Alice Stadum
ClimateWorks Foundation

author: New York Transit Museum

Over 100 years ago, a train system operated underground. A traveller did not have the abilities to use landmarks and sunlight to orient themselves. So, how did architects resolve the subway’s wayfinding issue beneath the streets of NYC? By using art, imagery, labels, and color (and, yes, signs!)

Artists Heins & LaFarge conjured an approach “of aiding the traveler in the rapid and easy identification of his whereabouts.” Ceramic designs created a sense of place and placement and allowed for commuters to easily comprehend their location. The visuals would correlate with geographic locations, such as a sloop scene for South Ferry. Other depictions were more clever, such as representing a beaver for Astor Place. The desire was create distinction between the stations.

Following Heins & LaFarge, Squire Vickers took over the work. He respected the artful intent of his predecessor, but recognized that the signage needed to be serviceable. Rather than using ceramic embellishments, tile mosaics adorned the station walls with color, patterning, illustrations and station names, making them easier to clean. The focus changed to the station names themselves, spelling them out in tile patterns, and developing neighborhood identification to label the station below.

Naturally, there’s more to the story. Subway Style is loaded with beautiful images. Photographs, architectural drawings, and schematic illustrations enhance the design stories surrounding the system’s infrastructure: buildings, powerplants, furnishings, ironwork, fixtures, and of course signage.