ROSENSTIEL SCHOOL OF MARINE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

VIRGINIA KEY, FLORIDA

 

New Environmental Graphics and Wayfinding Program for UM's Marine Campus.

 

In 1953, the University of Miami established the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in its current location on Virginia Key as an institute for tropical marine research. For the next sixty plus years, the campus gradually expanded, adding new classrooms and research facilites. Due in part to its organic expansion, the campus lacked any form of wayfinding other than a system of aging and mismatched building identity signs that were not supportive of the current UM brand. The University hired Yazi to review the campus wayfinding shortfalls, and to design a new branded sign program that would improve conditions for both students and visitors. Our first step was to perform a complete analysis of the campus to document the existing conditions, uncover opportunities, and create a new wayfinding strategy that would improve the existing signage. Our solutions included a new uniform building identity sign program, as well as a pedestrian orientation and directional sign program to guide students and visitors to primary destinations on campus. To further aid orientation, our services included the design and creation of a campus map and printed brochure which provide an additional resource for both students and visitors.