campuses

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.

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 (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.

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.

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.

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.

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.