Wayfinding strategies

McMaster University’s new Peter George Centre for Living and Learning is the first new residence on campus in 15 years. The 335,000 square-foot building combines a 500-bed residence with academic spaces and several student amenities. The Centre’s atrium houses a striking helical staircase that links the academic and common areas. DoubleSpace & Adrian Ozimek Recognizing the staircase as an intuitive wayfinding landmark, we were inspired by its form in the design of the signage. Curved signage panels wrap the building’s columns and feature directional information to facilities located on each floor. We selected playful graphics and bold colours to enliven the space and differentiate between different levels, gradua... En savoir plus

The newly transformed Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center at Syracuse University opened in early 2021. Entro collaborated with architects Ashley McGraw, Mackey Mitchell and branding consultant Jack Porter to ensure the improved space became the “living room of the campus,” a comfortable environment for students to gather, eat, study, and socialize. Halkin Mason Photography The design team prioritized the principals of universal design and student-centred design to create a space that celebrates the diverse and inclusive atmosphere of Syracuse University. The 108,000-square-foot renovation of the original 3-level building, which dates back to 1985, resulted in an open central atrium, a transformed dining experience... En savoir plus

Mackenzie Health’s Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, which opened as a full-service community hospital in June 2021, is the first hospital to be built in the City of Vaughan and the first net new hospital to be built in Ontario in 30 years, and with that an exemplary story of how wayfinding supports the patient experience. Clean, understated, simple and elegant, the wayfinding and signage program is designed to support well-being, reduce anxiety, and contribute to a positive and memorable hospital visit or stay. Tom Arban At 1.2 million square feet and 11 storeys, the first step was to develop a clear and comprehensive wayfinding strategy to aid in the spatial understanding and navigation of this large hospital. In collaboration wit... En savoir plus

The recent space transformation project at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center (PMCC) in Toronto is a powerful example of how the physical environment can prioritize the patient experience and support the healing process. When designing this 40,666 square-foot ground floor renovation, Siamak Hariri, Founding Partner of Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA) envisioned a beautiful, uplifting space that could “empower patients and their families through the use of light, landscape, art, and materials.” We took our cue from the architectural vision in the design of the wayfinding and donor recognition program, using colours, graphics, and forms to achieve a soothing, restorative atmosphere. Adrian Ozimek & DoubleSpace The goal... En savoir plus

Entro contributed to the recent lobby and entrance renovation at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Our interior and exterior signage and wayfinding program not only complement the renovated space, but also integrate with the architectural features of the building. Tom Arban The University’s Academic Plan identified OISE as a priority for renovation, to bring spaces up-to-date and meet contemporary sustainability and accessibility requirements. The completed lobby renovation, by Gow Hastings Architects and Two Row Architect, introduces important Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, allowing them to permeate the fabric of the 40-year old brutalist building in downtown Toronto. T... En savoir plus

In the midst of a global pandemic, Covenant House New York (CHNY) opened the doors of its new, purpose-built facility. Designed by FXCollaborative, the 80,000 square-foot 11-storey site provides food, shelter, and healthcare services to the City’s most vulnerable homeless, runaway, and exploited youth. The space is designed from the ground up to achieve the organization’s core mission to provide an open and welcoming yet safe and secure environment; to celebrate community and never forget the individual; and to function in a way that is both easy to navigate yet flexible enough to allow for change. Chris Cooper, Adam Kane Macchia and Jessica Schrader Entro worked closely with Covenant House, FXCollaborative, and Envoie Pro... En savoir plus

Entro worked with Pentagram and Safdie Architects on the identity, signage, and wayfinding program for the City Library in Salt Lake City.   The signage was created using stainless steel, etched glass, and vinyl, to create levels of transparency that mimic the overall design of the building.   Directional signage in the stacks uses a template for the Dewey Decimal System of book classification. It allows librarians to easily print out new inserts, should they need to update the numbers of shelving locations in the signs. En savoir plus

The major redevelopment of a new 26-gate passenger terminal at Ottawa International Airport required wayfinding that was highly visible and easy to understand.   Entro's wayfinding program reflected the improvements to airside and landside and helped to simplify the reconfiguration of inbound and outbound roadways.   Working collaboratively with the architects and client, we provided a bold, highly visible post-mounted sign system which supports a clear hierarchy of primary and secondary information. En savoir plus

Union Station is a hub for GO Transit, TTC, VIA Rail and the Union Pearson Express, and welcomes over 40 million passengers annually. Entro developed a comprehensive wayfinding and signage strategy and, in this first phase of Union Station’s multi-phase redevelopment plan, oversaw the rollout of identification and directional signage for the exterior building, the new York concourse, and parts of the Great Hall leading to the UP Express terminal.   With four different urban transportation systems as well as shopping and other amenities converging within a complex and transitioning building, and several major attractions in the immediate vicinity, the challenge was to organize a broad range of information on the signage... En savoir plus

The Rockefeller University is among the most respected medical research institutions in the world. Its small campus size belies its enormous accomplishments. Contemporary and classic architecture mingle deep within the lush and beautiful grounds, and circuitous pathways create outdoor “rooms.”   Our program unifies and respects the architecture with traditional patinated and oxidized bronze along with contemporary forms and typography. The totems are slim structures of opposing curved panels with extreme rigidity, elegance, and surface area. The panel void conceals LED pathway lighting. Plaque signs echo the totem’s curves. The design appears timeless, at once part of and enhancing its surrounds. En savoir plus

This commanding new 43-story office tower shines with light over downtown Singapore, and an 82-foot rooftop garden joins the tower with the sky. The extraordinary use of light and color in Pelli Clarke Pelli’s architecture inspired our design. Gorgeous illuminated dichroic acrylic shimmers in black granite to announce the building, and on the other side graphics and text are layered along a 20-foot long illuminated translucent wall.   Inside, transparent materials and circular banded light continue the delightful interplay of figure/ground and visual depth. Bright colors add to the contemporary, upbeat feel of the building’s interior spaces. En savoir plus

The largest rail facility in Brooklyn serves thousands of passengers each day using eleven subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road. All those people needed to find their way quickly, efficiently, and easily. That was where we came in. We used LIRR’s graphic standards to effectively brand the platform areas.   Our distinctive dot pattern was coupled with the wayfinding and identification information, and incorporated into platform edge lighting. And we established a design language for the building across the exterior, ticketing areas, and track and subway identification. En savoir plus

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is the second busiest in Canada, with over 20 million passengers annually. To address the airport's high traffic volume, Entro worked together with YVR on the rollout of an updated wayfinding program.   The wayfinding program provides a clear visual hierarchy between key areas such as terminals, departures / arrivals, parking lots, and passenger pick-up / drop-off locations. The exterior and interior signage work together holistically to promote seamless travel for all YVR passengers.   On the interior, Entro developed a modular system with standardized layouts and colours, which enables YVR to perform internal updates. Colour-coding in the exterior wayfinding highlights and differ... En savoir plus

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is a leading hospital that is working to change the stigma surrounding mental illness. The central facility is located in Toronto, with 32 community locations throughout Ontario. Entro developed a master plan for CAMH’s wayfinding system to provide clarity, as well as a donor recognition display as a nod to their generous supporters.   The psychiatric department’s revi­tal­iza­tion is attrib­uted largely to the generos­ity of Gerald Sheff & Shanitha Kachan, who gave gift of $2.5M to the project. Our design for the grand entrance pays homage to Sheff & Kachan. The donor’s names are set in stain­less steel let... En savoir plus