campuses

Salesianum School Stadium

Abessinio Stadium is a state-of-the-art athletic facility that serves the Salesianum School, as well as the residents of Wilmington, Delaware. The stadium hosts high school athletic competitions, youth leagues and community events. It is also the home to Delaware State Parks Administrative Offices.

MERJE worked the ABHA Architects (Wilmington) and The Salesianum School to design and plan exterior signage, donor recognition, concession signage, interior signage, field graphics and a variety of environmental branding elements. The design reinforces the Salesianum brand, while also be carefully integrated into the architectural features.

University of Hartford

The University of Hartford (UHart) is a private university in West Hartford, Connecticut. The 350- acre main campus includes 25 buildings and 10 Parking Lots. The self-contained campus is made up of academic buildings, an athletic complex, theaters, residence halls and conference / meeting spaces.

The University of Hartford’s brand focuses on their distinct and diverse array of opportunities and the common vision that unites the university community of multifaceted makers.

MERJE has been engaged to help translate the brand with the campus environment. Providing not only directional information, but also reinforcement of the UHart identity. The project includes a wayfinding analysis of the campus, including the approach from the surrounding roadways, internal campus circulation, parking and pedestrian routes. The new design is more legible, easily maintained and on-brand. Scale, modularity and long-term maintenance are of primary concern. We also looked for opportunities to create memorable landmarks that create orientation and photo opportunities.

Saint Joseph’s University

Saint Joseph’s University (SJU or St. Joe’s) is a private Jesuit university. The university was founded in 1851 as Saint Joseph’s College. SJU is the seventh oldest Jesuit university in the U.S. and has an enrollment of over 9,200 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. Located in Pennsylvania, the campus is an urban environment that straddles Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township.

Having recently completed a Campus Master Plan, that will add buildings, change circulation and add significant public spaces (Quads) over the next 5 years, SJU engage MERJE to conduct a Wayfinding Analysis that considers current conditions, as well as the opportunities and challenges with the planned campus changes.
Design of new campus kiosks and a simpler, more understandable map was the priority for the short-term future, while pedestrian signage and building identification needs to be standardized for the long-term changes. The design aesthetic considers the campus architecture, SJU brand and need for simple and clear information. Respecting the campus environment, flexibility, maintenance and limiting the quantity of signs were also of primary concern.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech

A unique and functional wayfinding system can market Virginia Tech, present a friendly image and communicate that the University is efficient, organized and caring. Helping a visitor “find their way” is an important part of their experience and time spent on campus.

The goals of the Wayfinding Master Plan, developed by MERJE, included achieving a consistent and unified wayfinding system, incorporating graphic improvements based on university branding initiatives, accessibility for persons with disabilities, safety, cost, durability, and sustainability. The primary focus was the design of aesthetically appropriate signs that enhanced the visual character of the campus. The work included building ID signs, pedestrian and vehicular directionals, parking lot identification, campus maps and utilizing existing pavilions to create new information hubs for students and visitors alike.

University of Alaska, Anchorage Kiosk

University of Alaska

Environmental graphic design is all about inspiration. It’s about discovering the lakes and spruce forests, the quiet libraries and dynamic sports centers, the jewels of a place that inform visitors that a destination is worth visiting—and about announcing these gems in the form of bold graphics. Eye-catching logos on colorful signs that read Arts Building, Bookstore, Campus Center and even dog-sledding, all help guide people to a university’s best places. They also help build an identity.

The University of Alaska, Anchorage, a major research institution, and the state’s largest university wanted to help students and faculty find their way around campus. It also sought out a better way to market itself to visitors. The university commissioned MERJE to develop a comprehensive Wayfinding and Signage Master Plan for all of its buildings on two of its campuses.

Swarthmore Inn

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College is currently embarking upon a series of capital project initiatives that will continue to transform the campus. A key component of these initiatives is the development of the Town Center West project, which is a development concept that includes the construction of an inn, restaurant, and retail space to house an expanded College store. The TCW development, which has the additional feature of being in close proximity to a regional rail line, will also provide a closer, stronger connection between Borough residents and the College community

MERJE worked with the College and Aegis Property Group, as well as a multi-disciplined team of architects, interior designers, and retail strategist to develop a comprehensive exterior and interior signage program for the various building types. The traditional borough architecture and village setting are a guiding basis for design, as well as strong brand and identity recognition for each space.

Peddie School

Peddie School

MERJE worked closely with the RMJM Hillier architectural team and the Peddie School science department to design a solution that provides opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom through the use of dynamic graphics and interpretive design.

Elements such as a large scale DNA model, molecular structure diagrams of common everyday items, a floor graphic depicting a scale model of the solar system, and signage provide constant sources of scientific information. Each of the fourteen classrooms are named for and feature a famous scientist such as Sir Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein.

This project has been recognized by the Society for Environmental Graphic Design.

Episcopal Academy Donor Wall

Episcopal Academy

The Episcopal Academy’s 123-acre campus is home to academic buildings for grades pre-K through 12, a chapel, campus center, athletic center and fields for 1,100 students. Working with the Academy and multiple architectural teams, MERJE developed interior, exterior, and donor signage programs for the entire campus.

The design of the exterior signage includes the Episcopal Academy seal and “Episcopal blue” as primary graphic elements. Stone bases on ID signs and kiosks reflect building materials used thoughout the campus. The wayfinding program is coordinated with the landscape architecture and overall campus plan to provide a seamless and easy-to-navigate journey.

For interior spaces, a cohesive wayfinding system was developed to unify all of the buildings on campus. The system was developed to adapt to and complement each interior environment.

Delaware Valley University

Delaware Valley University

Founded in 1896, Delaware Valley University offers a science-based curriculum to 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students on a beautiful 600-acre campus north of Philadelphia. Consistently named one of the “Best in the Northeast,” the University has been expanding and engaged MERJE to design an exterior wayfinding program that would make the campus easier to navigate and friendlier for students and visitors alike.

While there are a number of historic buildings on campus, the University wanted to emphasize its growth and expansion with a colorful, contemporary system. A clean, grid-like design was incorporated with a graphic hint of historic architecture elements. Parking lots were clearly identified and directed to. Building identification signs and vehicular The pops of color on each sign type also coordinated with the University’s new marketing and branding campaign.

DCCC

Delaware County Community College is the center of educational opportunity in Delaware and Chester Counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania. As a result of the College’s growth, the current signage systems are functionally inadequate and lack a uniform standard of quality and image. To that end, the College’s Wayfinding and Signage Committee hired MERJE to plan and design a new Campus Signage Master Plan.

MERJE recommendations including a new approach to parking, building identification and room numbering. The design options reflect the character of the surrounding community and fit with in the natural landscape of the campus.