Campus wayfinding topic of public input session

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Wayfinding on campus will be the topic Tuesday, May 20, when a Philadelphia firm visits Western Michigan University to gather input as part of the first step in developing a wayfinding master plan for the University.

An hour-long public input session with the team from Cloud Gehshan Associates will take place at 5:30 p.m. in 2030 Fetzer Center. Areas the team hopes to cover include details on most frequently visited campus sites, ease or difficulty of navigating the campus, directions and how they are delivered, and usability of the existing campus sign system.

Cloud Gehshan was hired by the University after a competitive interview process with a campuswide committee. The firm will develop a wayfinding master plan as well as recommendations for future phased implementation that may include both traditional signage and electronic wayfinding technology.

The public meeting is part of a round of fact-gathering sessions scheduled this week. Other meetings will involve University employees in such areas as academic affairs, admissions, development and alumni relations, disability services, public safety, student affairs, business and finance, community outreach, university relations, Auxiliary Enterprises, athletics and Facilities Management.

Cloud Gehshan has a 25-year history in the planning and design of comprehensive graphic systems for the public environment. Their work combines identity, signage, wayfinding, digital and interactive media, print and Web design. Their higher education clients have included Arizona State, Ohio State and George Washington universities as well as the universities of Chicago, Maryland and Iowa.