I wrote an article in Aspects earlier in the year which talked about the new internal signage which will be appearing around the Main Building. At the time, we were intending to roll out the scheme by the start of the academic year, but for various reasons we had to delay it.
I’m delighted to report that the signage will be implemented over the next couple of weeks, and pending disasters will therefore be ready for the start of Term Two. In fact, you may have already noticed that some of the old signs have come down and that walls have been painted, ready for the installation.
I hope you will like the new signs. I think they add a splash of colour to the building, but more importantly, they help visitors, students and staff find their way round our complex labyrinth of corridors.
In advance of the signage system being in place, here are some things you need to know:
-
The Main Building is now split into four quadrants – South, North, East and West. Each quadrant has its own colour (South = blue, North = yellow, East = red, West = green) to provide a visual aid for navigation. This colour is carried through the signage itself and the gateways which mark the crossing from one quadrant to another
-
Room numbers remain as they are, so if you are in the South Wing, your room number will still be, for example, S (or SW) 299, and if you are in the Main Building, your room number will be 499 (not E499 or W499)
-
You will notice that the information on the Main Directories, which will be located in the Lower Foyer and at the North Entrance, is sparse. We have taken the decision to only include departments or offices which: a) are not normally known by their room number; and b) have a high volume of occasional or infrequent visitors. We have worked with representatives from the Schools and other areas of the University to arrive at our final list
-
At floor level, we have exercised greater flexibility, so if your department isn’t mentioned on the Directories, don’t worry. It may still be on the directional signage on your floor, so a visitor will know if they’re close by, or if you give them a room number, they’ll be able to use the system to tell if they’re headed in the right direction
-
Communication with visitors is important if the system is to work properly. Wherever possible, use your room number rather than office name, and use it in combination with the quadrant you are in. For example, rather than telling someone to come to the Marketing Department (assuming you work in the Marketing Department!), tell them to come to S210 in the South quadrant. Through a combination of the clear instructions and the signage system itself, they should be able to find their way to your office pretty easily.
In the New Year, we will be looking at installing some Perspex holders around the building which can be used to promote events, offers or even information
We also intend to look at door signage, specifically signs which mark the entrance to a department or group
Leaflets will be produced for Reception which visitors can take as a guide to using the signage system.
The internal signage project has been a very complex one. We have put dozens if not hundreds of hours into getting this right. However, as it is so difficult (believe me, it’s much harder than you’d think!) it is possible that there are errors or that some aspect of the system won’t work. You can provide feedback to me at c.j.r.harrison@aston.ac.uk or Ian Oldacre on i.r.oldacre@aston.ac.uk. My only request is that you go easy on us!
Words by Chris Harrison
Main University navigation links
