City of Miami Gardens

WHERE ARE WE

The City had installed gateway identity signs at most major entry points, but there were only a handful of FDOT directional signs throughout city streets to guide visitors to public destinations. The City is accessible by several major expressways, but there was no identity or sense of arrival for visitors entering from these highways. There were no wayfinding signs to the City’s public parks, cultural and community centers. There was virtually no Miami Gardens branding or recognition throughout the City. We performed a comprehensive survey onsite of the existing signage and roadway conditions, and documented our findings. We reviewed these findings with the City to gain their insight into the issues, and to establish specific goals for improving them.

DESIGNING CHANGE

Based on our analysis, we proposed a new program of community wayfinding signs to be installed at key intersections, entry points, and pathways throughout the City to add both identity and guidance for visitors. We created detailed sign location plans indicating the exact location and messaging for new wayfinding signs. The roadways throughout Miami Gardens are regulated by FDOT, and we were required to comply with the MUTCD community wayfinding sign standards. These standards define and dictate the use, layout, messaging, graphics, sizes, and materials that can be used on community wayfinding signs. We worked carefully with the City and FDOT to design, locate, and specify the new signs to insure that they would comply with the required standards. The blue and yellow color palette aligns with City branding, and the City’s name and seal are displayed on each sign. The backs of the sign panels feature a shadow graphic of the Sunshine State Arch—a national historic site located in Miami Gardens. The arc was built in 1964 and inspired by the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO. Each message is displayed on a seperate sign panel that can be easily removed and updated, which reduces future replacement costs. The signs are also designed with an adjustable sign post that can be lengthened or shortened when sign message panels are added or removed.