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Fish
(Fegan) and
Hat (Hunnewell)
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 his
month, Children’s began implementing a new system of signage, maps
and interactive kiosks to provide better customer service and help
families navigate the hospital. The wayfinding project, as it is
known, began with the installation of new directional signs on the
ground, first and second floors. It will continue in phases over
the next two years, and should be complete as the new Clinical Building
expansion opens its doors in 2005.
The improved signage replaces a system that was over
15 years old. “The current system is a mish-mash of signs,” says
Paula Quan, executive director of
Corporate Real Estate. “It’s obsolete, sometimes hard to read, and
so over-signed that even when the directions are right in front
of you, they’re easy to miss.” The new system uses color-coding,
incorporates international symbols and provides much greater consistency
throughout the campus. It also provides definitive guidelines for
the posting of any new signs.
One of the first and most obvious components of the
project is the new, color-coded signage associating each clinical
building with an icon: Moon (Main), Flower (Farley/Pavilion), Fish
(Fegan), Hat (Hunnewell) and Boat (Bader). Although the new signage
will first be installed on the lower levels, the system will eventually
be used universally—right down to the signage for individual offices,
conference rooms and clinical areas.
In July, a new hospital directory will be installed
in place of the current volunteer desk at the top of the main lobby
stairs, and by August, project planners hope to have a new, interactive
kiosk up and running. The kiosk will operate in both English and
Spanish, and will allow visitors to use a touch-screen interface
to find any location in the hospital, plot a course from one appointment
to another, and print out color maps and directions.
The integrated wayfinding system is the product of more
than a year of planning by the Wayfinding Committee, which includes
representatives from Facilities, Engineering, Environmental Services,
Child Life, Public Affairs and other departments.—CM
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