Research/ Observations

The key to finding the best solution for the navigational struggles of the science buildings was to carefully analyze the current state of the area. There were three key questions I wanted to focus on in my observations:

• How do new or returning students and faculty interact with the buildings features?

• What is the current signage and how effective is it?

• Is the building and its wayfinding features disability friendly?

All these questions went hand in hand with my research, but all had special qualities in each that would lead me to the best solution. I wanted to hone in on the accessibility quality of the building because I feel it’s important we meet needs for everyone when it comes to navigating a building. This meant meeting needs for people in wheelchairs, that are deaf, etc. A focus on this required further research to make sure I met certain specifications for each disability (signage 50” off the ground, brail on signage, etc.).

Main Issues

• The signage was 50% pieces of copy paper with shoddy, sometimes misleading, directions on them.

• Students don’t know which science building they are in, Roddy or Caputo (the two sciences buildings that make up the complex).

• The bathrooms aren’t well marked and are tucked away in the corners of the buildings without proper signage to find them.

• There aren’t any well defined, easy to read orientation maps of the buildings to help students find their way around.