Institutions , Wayfinding

Cuyahoga Community College Wayfinding

Case Study

Nomenclature, Sign Systems


Tri-C is Ohio’s first community college, and the state’s oldest and largest public community college. It offers more than 1,000 credit courses and more than 190 career and technical programs. Tri-C’s reach spans the county, with three campuses beyond its downtown Cleveland hub, two Corporate College locations, and the Hospitality Management Center in Cleveland’s Public Square.

Challenge

As the state’s largest community college, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) attracts students from around the region who attend classes at multiple campuses. Businesses utilize Tri-C facilities for professional development and events. The diverse and often transient nature of the population visiting Tri-C called for a clear, consistent wayfinding strategy with an updated signage program to improve navigation inside the buildings.

“It is important to us that our students be able to find where they need to go inside our campuses, and currently they have a difficult time doing that. With Guide Studio’s expertise, they had a fresh approach based on the progression of movement through our buildings.”

Mark Green,Director of Construction, Planning & Design, Tri-C

Tri-C Colors

Solutions

  • Thorough experience audits of Tri-C’s main, east and west campuses included tours and travel path analyses in order to accurately document traffic flow and determine how separate audiences (students, visitors and staff) accessed spaces on campus.
  • A color-coded sign program was developed to provide visual cues in combination with building numbers. Together, these elements simplify the information people need to find their way, and it is especially helpful for connected buildings on campuses. That way, people can recognize they are entering a new building even if they aren’t going outside.
  • A nomenclature scrub resulted in a standard for consistent naming across campuses to reduce confusion. Rather than changing room numbers (which would require a system-wide overhaul), a modular system was recommended, with easily changed components for versatility. These signs combine the old number system (assigned by the building architect) with new, color-coded signage and naming.

“We learned a different perspective on room numbering based on how people travel through a space, and now we have signage standards in place for the future so we can work on implementing the wayfinding package.”

Mark Green,Director of Construction, Planning & Design, Tri-C

Photo Gallery

Position Papers
Branding Communities Institutions Marketing Public Venues Retail Wayfinding

What to Expect When Planning

At Guide Studio, we employ a unique methodology—we call it Design with Direction™ —creativity balanced with purpose. This process encompasses three key phases of work: Dig Down, our strategic.. Read More
Position Papers
Branding Communities Institutions Marketing Public Venues Retail Wayfinding

What To Expect When Designing

At Guide Studio, we employ a unique methodology—we call it Design with Direction™ —creativity balanced with purpose. This process encompasses three key phases of work: DigDown, our strategic planning.. Read More
Case Study
Institutions Wayfinding

Cuyahoga Community College Wayfinding


Tri-C is Ohio’s first community college, and the state’s oldest and largest public community college. It offers more than 1,000 credit courses and more than 190 career and technical.. Read More