Wayfinding Subgroup, February 9, 2012
2/9/12 Campus Master Plan Wayfinding Subgroup meeting, HIG 223
In attendance: Rob Nelson, Melissa Acker, Kevan Frazier, Don Gordon, Debbie Griffith, Mark Harvey, Ben Judge, Gregg Kormanik, Garrett Male, Patrice Mitchell, Christine Riley, and David Todd.
Rob Nelson called the meeting to order at 9:05 am.
The subgroup reviewed the preliminary findings from the Wayfinding survey.
Key items discussed in reference to the findings:
- The group would like to see results for the main entrance question and for the question regarding signage for buildings, filtered by constituent group.
- Consider sending out the survey to more infrequent visitors to campus.
- Discussed the main entrance issue. We need to direct different groups in different ways, depending on their destination. We do not need one entrance. We need to enhance all of them. Campus Drive looks like a back entrance/service entrance. We need to ensure that as soon as people get off of I-26, the surroundings begin to look like a campus with landscaping and signage.
- Consider doing a monumental sign on WT Weaver Boulevard and Merrimon Avenue.
- No matter which way we are directing people to campus, we need consistency with directions. And we need to refer to proper signage with those set steps.
- In the signage process, we need to address everything from monumental signage to interior signage. We need to deal with interior building numbering inconsistencies.
Rob introduced Jeff Brown, CIO of the University, and new member of the subgroup.
- Jeff reported on the work already being done on the campus map. The webmaster and Communication and Marketing staff were both working to enhance the existing map. Updates would make it more interactive, with features for layering that would allow viewers to select parking areas, academic buildings, wheelchair accessibility, etc. at the click of a button. The current campus map is a static PDF, which is good for printing, but it does not have added functionality.
- Jeff talked about using QR codes, so that visitors could link to information on buildings, directions, or coordinates via their smartphones.
- Jeff also talked about digital signage opportunities. Digital signage, specifically on the inside of the buildings, would allow for emergency notifications or special event information to be displayed at the touch of a button from a central location.
A subgroup member asked how to fix the misinformation on Google maps? Jeff and others said that several people were attempting to fix this.
A subgroup member asked how we get more specific coordinates for people’s GPS. Jeff told the group that there are two GPS main companies. The bigger question would be do we give each building on a campus a specific address? We already have those for emergency officials. Do we share that information with the wider community? Maybe we only need to get visitors to the parking lots?
The subgroup agreed that it was important to continue to focus on the first-time visitor experience.
Rob reported on the status of the RFP. Instead of the more formal RFP process, he had decided to take advantage of existing rules that allow us to solicit project proposals from four predetermined firms already contracted by UNC Asheville. The budget for the planning phase will not exceed $50,000. The implementation budget is still to be determined and developed. Rob reiterated that we are committed to implementation.
Rob concluded the meeting at 10:35 am.