CocoWalk

INVISIBLE SPACES

The property’s existing signage was both sparse and out of date, and visitors struggled to find the parking garages, elevators and essential services. Tenants complained that their storefront signage was not visible to pedestrians—which created leasing problems for the center’s owners. After thoroughly analyzing the existing conditions it was clear that major wayfinding improvements were needed to the garages, directional and orientation signage, and tenant signage.

TALE OF TWO GARAGES

Although the center possessed a large parking garage, visitors clearly struggled to locate the entries from the street. Equally problematic was the fact that too many visitors complained about having difficulties finding their way on foot out of the garages, and finding their cars upon their return. To solve these issues we developed an entirely new wayfinding plan for the garage. We formally divided the garage in two, giving each half a distinct name that was prominently featured on the large new entry signs as well as new vehicular and pedestrian directional signage throughout each garage. To make the wayfinding even clearer, we color coded the signs, elevators, and stair locations in each garage to visually separate one garage from the other.

PRESERVING THE PAST

In the center’s arcades and plazas we designed new directional signs and orientation kiosks. The new directionals were designed to resemble the existing original mosaic tile signs. To re-create the look, the sign fabricator made molds on-site of the existing ceramic sign frames, and then cast and faux painted the new signs to look almost identical to the originals. We re-purposed some of the original ceramic signs by carefully fitting new graphic overlays with updated messages.

TENANT VISIBILITY

To improve tenant recognition we designed new overhead illuminated tenant signs that hung perpendicular to walkways in the center’s arcades. To provide prominent recognition of major tenants on upper floors, we designed a faux architectural facade along the front of the building that provides eight additional locations for internally illuminated tenant signs that are highly visible to both pedestrians and passing traffic.