New signs in place
Improvements cause confusion

(PUBLISHED 31 AUG 2004)

By Laura Beard
Northern Light

The first phase of a major signage facelift at the University of Alaska Anchorage is nearly complete but not without causing some confusion on campus.

In Phase One of the Wayfinding Project, a plan to improve signage at UAA, 43 new signs were installed around campus this summer. The signs sport new colors, new building names and feature illuminated lettering to increase visibility at night.

Students who arrived on campus the week before classes had difficulty finding their way to buildings because some of the old signs with buildings’ former names remained in place behind new ones.

“It was a little hard to find all the buildings…I was just going around campus to make sure I knew where all my classes would be, but it got confusing with so many different signs,” said Amy Lane, a third-year college student new to UAA. Lane arrived on campus the week before classes began, while old signs were still in place.

“Eventually I found everything though…you’re always a little lost when you move to a new school.”

Cyndi Spear, Associate Vice Chancellor at Facilities and Campus Services, said work was done all through the weekend to get the old signs down before the start of classes on Aug. 30.

Sign placement is another problem FCS is working to correct. A sign was placed on the wrong side of the grass median on Providence Drive. Spear said the sign’s misplacement is due to a contractor error.

FCS is aware of the problem and plans to relocate the sign but the availability of the contractor is limited during the summer with construction in process all over town.

“We’re doing the best we can, as fast as we can,” Spear said.

Some signs are difficult to see due to placement, either because they are camouflaged behind trees and bushes or are far off the road. Spear said the sign locations were planned in the winter and have thus required adjustment when viewed with full summer foliage.

“We are working with the contractor and design team to tweak and correct some issues with sign placement,” Spear said. “We hope to have Phase One completed, with adjustments and sign base cleanup by mid-September.”

The Wayfinding Project was designed to guide visitors, students and faculty around campus by presenting an accessible, user-friendly campus and signage system, with a focus on helping first-time visitors successfully find where they are going.

Ultimately, signs will guide visitors from the airport and other primary arrival routes into Anchorage to UAA’s main campus, the University Center, the Diplomacy Building and the Aviation Technology Center.

Vehicular signs and pedestrian signs with Braille will also be implemented.

John Dede, sign designer and director of marketing and communications said the color scheme was changed to make the signs “look more rich.”

“We wanted a greater contrast, so we made the green darker and richer, and the gold brighter and bolder, with more of an orange tone so it’s not as yellow,” Dede said. “Here, we call (the new colors) UAA Green and UAA Gold.”

The total project cost for Phase One is estimated at $770,000 funded from capital, operating and auxiliary budgets.

In fiscal year 2001, the project was funded via the state capital budget for $450,000. Another $200,000 was added from campus reallocation in fiscal year 2003 to fund further implementation in Phase One, Spear said.

Phase Two will be in design this fall, and is on the fiscal year 2006 capital request for funding.

“We will purchase additional signs with any funds that become available in the meantime,” Spear said.

The Wayfinding Project has a total of seven “phases”, but will continually evolve in response to comments from students, faculty and staff to update and improve signs on campus.