Skip to content

Canadian Urbanism Uncovered

LEADING THE WAY: Understanding the World of Wayfinding

Read more articles by

WHAT: Leading the Way: Understanding the World of Wayfinding
WHEN: Monday, May 5th, 6:30-9:00pm
WHERE: Eaton Lecture Theatre (RCC204), Ryerson University / 80 Gould St.
COST: free!
RSVP: You must RSVP at our Eventbrite page. Limited rush seating available night of event
FACEBOOK: Please share our event listing on Facebook

Many cities such as London, New York, Bogota and Vancouver have developed wayfinding strategies in response to significant transportation challenges and/or major events such as the Olympics. The City of Toronto is planning on rolling out a limited wayfinding system in time for the 2015 Pan/ParaPan Am Games.

At the “Leading the Way: Understanding the World of Wayfinding” event, you will get a global tour of what other cities are implementing on their streets by Phil Berczuk, the director of design at Steer Davies Gleave who is also leading the design of Toronto’s wayfinding system. Berczuk’s presentation will be followed by a Q&A session with Spacing’s Matthew Blackett.

wayfinding_0034malmo
Wayfinding signs in Malmo, Sweden.
wayfinding_0094-iceland-
Wayfinding signs in Reykjavik, Iceland
wayfinding_hamburg_0134
Wayfinding signs in Hamburg, Germany
wayfinding_0094 GTB_0050
Wayfinding signs in Gotheburg, Sweden
wayfinding-desmoines_17
Wayfinding signs in Des Moines, Iowa
wayfinding-CAL_5908
Wayfinding signs in Calgary, Alberta

In  October 2012, the City adopted the Wayfinding Strategy and is currently working with consultants Steer Davies Gleave and partners on Phase Two, the pilot implementation. The proposed pilot areas are both significant Pan/ParaPan Am Games sites. The two year program will include consultation with stakeholders, the public and project partners, detailed graphic & product design, as well as sign prototyping, updating highway signage policies, recommendations for a digital strategy, and implementation in two areas of the city – the Financial District Business Improvement Association and the area surrounding University of Toronto Scarborough Campus.

This event is held in partnership with Spacing, Walk Toronto, The City of Toronto, and Ryerson University.

photos by Matthew Blackett

Recommended

4 comments

  1. We are hopeful of being involved in the bidding on this project, ESPECIALLY since our company built and installed the signs you see in the last image of the Downtown Calgary Wayfinding project.

  2. Probably not going to happen. Astral media has the contract here.

  3. Sydney — This is separate from Astral. It *is* happening as the signs are close to going into production and appear on the streets for testing in the Fall.

  4. I hope they include some digital installations as well. Be a shame to have to redo them all in another few years, just to catch up to where they should have been anyway.