Last year, we completed a massive overhaul of the signage and wayfinding system at Methodist Charlton Medical Center, a large facility serving southwest Dallas County and beyond.
The overhaul included renumbering the entire patient room and level identity systems, as well as renaming elevator banks, entrances and parking lots. The system centered around the strategy known as anchoring, wherein the elevator banks act as the central facilitator of user wayfinding.
In short, we developed an alpha letter for each public elevator bank. Each particular alpha identity was extended out to the entrance closest to that elevator as well as the nearest parking lot, if applicable.
Have a look at our Flickr slideshow to get a better idea for how the system works visually.
To commemorate the posting of new photos of our Design District project onto our flickr page, I’ve decided to write a bit about the project.
Our new signage is being installed at 
Amanda Metzger 8:02 am on October 30, 2009 Permalink
HERE, HERE!! This is important on many levels, this being perhaps the MOST important. It is the mantra of our firm that these systems be fiscally responsible. They serve a very important function in a healthcare environment, but are NO less functional without the chronic OVER design that we see so often.
Travis Veigas 7:00 am on November 3, 2009 Permalink
In this post you have begun to pull back the cover from the phenomenon of irresponsible design that is not uncommon in the EGD community. Excessive cost is one important consequence of irresponsible design, and there are at least 2 others that need to be examined as well: (A) over-designed sign programs that do not communicate, and (B) eclectic use of materials that undermine architectural design integrity. I offer my congratulations to you for elevating the conversation about our industry.
J.B. 12:28 pm on November 3, 2009 Permalink
I think it stems from the belief that “design” to some, not only in our field but others, is the appearance of an object. I believe in holistically achieving design success with not only in the aesthetic, but also in application of information, working through constructibility, and appropriate locations. Some designers choose to ignore some of these points. They draw a napkin sketch, get paid, and then clean their hands of the project. They choose to let the owner hash out construction and cost. In my opinion this is ultimately a detriment to the overall field because a) we do not protect the client and b) we are not educating ourselves about cost for comparison.
*Note: I know some contracts are written to not include some of these services. I am writing about the body of work not the one or two projects where the owner does not want these services.
Jon Bizjak 3:14 pm on March 8, 2010 Permalink
Some very well thought out comments about costs now versus costs later. Unfortunately this thought process is often the exception and not the standard. From a fabricator’s stand point we face this every day, how to keep the costs down when adding one of anything after the project is completed. Thanks.