City of Pembroke Pines

SETTING THE SCENE

Incorporated in 1960 at less than one square mile, Pembroke Pines has grown rapidly becoming the second largest city in Broward County, and the 11th largest in the State. The evolution from small village to expansive city has produced a community with a wealth of public resources, and a growing need to unify the distinct neighborhoods and commercial centers that have emerged through the years.

FINDING COMMON GROUND 

Our discovery process began with a complete on-site analysis of existing wayfinding in the City. We documented our findings and outlined areas of opportunity where significant improvements could be made. Working closely with project landscape architect Miller Legg, we presented and discussed these issues with the City and its residents in a series of public meetings and workshops. There was overwhelming public support for improving the City’s identity and wayfinding, and our next task was to develop a comprehensive plan for a new wayfinding program that would elevate the character of the city streetscapes while providing much needed identity and direction.

PUTTING A FACE ON IT

Early in the planning process, we made the decision to organize the city into three East-West districts. Adopting a district model allowed us to organize information and destinations by region, which in turn would improve our abilities to direct residents to the numerous public destinations that span the multiple communities within the city. We designed four distinct graphic style options for the proposed new signage program. Each style visually depicts a uniform system of vehicular and pedestrian sign types, and included written descriptions outlining the purpose and usage for each component of the program. We proposed three different sizes of gateway signs that could be appropriately located at major, secondary and tertiary entry points into the city. Neighborhood identity signs could be used to provide a unified method for marking residential areas. Major and minor vehicular and pedestrian directional signs identify the districts and provide consistent direction to public destinations. Uniform monument signs provide identity for public parks and facilities. Historical markers present significant moments in the City’s history, and contribute to establishing a sense of place.