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Establishing Corporate Identity with Signage

by Justin Mitchell, Associate AIA

Establishing your corporate identity is the most effective way for you to get your customers to associate certain traits with your company, products, and services. One of the best ways to put your corporate entity at the front of their minds is by incorporating your brand on the outside of your business. Everything from your architectural signage and ADA signage to window graphics can allow customers to think about your companies traits, and portray the business’ image to those passing by. This allows you to greet and entice customers before they ever open the door.

Architectural Signage
Your building sign doesn’t have to be a plain acrylic square on the wall. Consider the style and ideas you would like to portray to your customers. Once you have a design idea, carry the same thought throughout your signs to give the entire building a seamless feeling and enhance the architectural design.

An example for a spa or resort is to look for muted colors with natural inspired details to give the signs a feeling of pure, natural and relaxing. They could be made from glass and be suspended between log posts, or it could be back-lit metal letters mounted on a large slab of stone. For an IT professional, architectural signage could be made from encasing modern, sharp-lined logo and lettering with a metal frame keeping the entire thing looking ultra high-tech and sharp.

ADA Signage
All signs required by the American with Disabilities Act have to comply with the federal guidelines, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also incorporate the company’s image. You can change the colors, the way they are mounted, and even add framing and your logo to the design. For example, a law firm or business that wants to portray a professional and a formal message, ADA signage made of frosted glass with colored, etched lettering and a raised metal Braille insert would work well.

Window Graphics
Fast food chains are a great example of the power and success of this type of image. New products are constantly advertised in their windows with large printed paper advertisements. This same idea can be leveraged to power your business’ image. Adding your logo and company name through etching, acrylic appliqués or silk screening can offer an effective touch.

A graphic design company for example, may like full window graphics printed with bright geometrical shapes and patterns to bring attention to the company brand. You can choose to have them in all the windows or just on the door. You can also have a series of individual graphics, or have a series of full sized images that carry from one window to the next.

In, conclusion, emphasizing the company brand can be done in an unlimited number of ways. Advertising pieces such as window graphics, architectural signage, ADA signage, and even directional signage will not only be functional, but also will consciously and sub-consciously relay the important image; traits and concepts consumers need to associate with your business in order to be successful.

Signage: A Way to Enhance your Business’ Image

Welcome!

Thanks for checking out our newest addition - The Small Group blog!

We will be posting helpful information on architecture, interiors, and small business operations. For a preview of what's to come, check out the posts below highlighting previous TSG articles written by our staff.

This month, Justin Mitchell, AIA Associate will be discussing "Establishing your Corporate Identity with Signage."

Stay tuned!

Creating an Office Environment that Increases Employee Production

By Shelbie Bristol, Assoc. IIDA
Interiors

Are you working in an office space resembling the photo on the left? White walls, gray cubicles, and not enough storage space to fit your needs? Studies have shown that these factors and others can have a negative effect on employee production. If you’re interested in increasing productivity in the workplace, consider some of the following suggestions:

• Ergonomics:
Most of us spend half of our waking hours at work; we need to feel comfortable. Let’s face it, when you’re in pain, it’s hard to concentrate on the task at hand. Making sure furniture and equipment, such as computers and keyboards, are ergonomically correct for the user can keep the employee focused on the job.

• Acoustics:
It can be hard to concentrate when you can hear everything that’s going on around you. Not everyone can have a private office, and open office spaces are often used. Consider partial height walls in these areas to add privacy and help block the noise. Another tip to reduce noise distractions is to add ambient sound, such as background music.

• Lighting:
No one wants to stare at a computer screen all day that has a glare on it. This is one of the reasons why lighting design is such an important factor in office environments. Three layers of lighting should be used throughout: general lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting. Using indirect lighting (general lighting layer) can prevent monitor glares. Accent lighting can add personality and energy. Task lighting allows employees to have some control over the amount of light they need. Natural light (whether from windows or skylights) is also important, as it can improve the moods of employees.

• Efficiency:
Employees need space. Make sure employees have a large enough desktop to meet the needs the job requires. If a desk is too small, employees can become disorganized, taking time away from their duties to search for a document they need. Providing them with ample storage is also a good idea, so they have a place to file documents they may need in the future.

• Color and Texture:
If you’ve been to our office or watched the tour on YouTube, you have seen the use of varying textures and colors that bring energy to our space. Working in a creative field, it is not hard to be inspired in our office environment. No matter what kind of job you have, you should be in an environment that has some color and texture. Color choices can vary depending on the needs of the job; neutral colors can be used for a more calming space, while brighter colors can be used for a more stimulating space. If you can’t paint, add art or furnishings with color.

If you apply these tips to your office environment, don’t be surprised when your employees’ work production improves.

Simple Ways to Incorporate LEED Concepts into Everyday Buildings

By Crystal Denker, AIA
Project Architect

LEED and “Green” design are important topics of discussion in early design. Most owners want to incorporate these principles, but upon further research discover that it costs more money up front to implement them. Although the benefits in the long term investment are usually impressive, most people don’t have the resources to pay for them initially, especially dealing with the state of the economy today. Even if an owner doesn’t want to go through the process of certifying their building through the US Green Building Council, there are still many things that can be done at little to no cost to implement some of the “spirit and intent” that the principles of green design have been set up to accomplish.

· Site Selection – If an owner is looking for land to purchase for a new project they should take the following into consideration:
o Land should not be purchased or developed that is considered to be prime farmland, in the 100 year flood plain, within 100 feet of any wetlands, or be part of any previous undeveloped land within 50 feet of a body of water that can support fish, recreation, or industrial use.
o Construct a new building on a previously developed site, or renovate a building instead of new construction.
o Purchase a site that is within ½ mile from a rail station or ¼ mile from a bus stop to promote less automobile use.
o Make sure the parking lot size that the building requires does not exceed minimum local zoning requirements.

· Water Efficiency :
o Save on water by using fixtures that require less water.
o Maintaining fixtures to prevent leaking faucets also helps conserve water.

· Energy Efficiency :
o Place the building on site and the direction of windows to take advantage of the natural angles of the sun to help with solar heat gain. Encourage employees to turn off lights when rooms are not in use.

· Materials and Resources:
o Provide recycling bins in the building for employees to participate in recycling.
o If an existing building is being renovated, re-use as much of the structural and building elements as possible.
o Consider using salvaged or re-furbished building materials.
o Many manufacturers are joining in on the green principles and are using recycled content in their products. Select products that meet these standards.
o Use local materials and building products.

· Indoor Environmental Quality:
o Don’t allow smoking in the building or within 25 feet of entrances.
o Reduce the amount of VOC’s put in the building. Many companies are voluntarily reducing the VOC’s in their products to make for a more productive work environment.
o Maintain good daylight in occupied spaces.
o Provide direct views to the exterior.

These are just a few ideas of many that don’t cost more money in the initial investment that can help sustain the earth’s resources for the generations to come. Please consider them in your next project.

The Future of Accessibility & What It Means to You

by Thomas Small, AIA

Principal / Director of Architecture

In July of 1994, the US Department of Justice published ground-breaking regulations in a document titled “28 CFR Part 36” pertaining to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations and in commercial facilities, including both new construction and alterations. The more common term for the regulations is widely known as the “ADA Standards for Accessible Design”, or the “ADAAG”. Appendix A of this document provided the basic parameters from which accessibility design has been followed since, and includes the now well-known requirements for the “5-foot toilet stall” and similar standards.

The ADA is not a building code, but rather civil rights law which is enforced by the Department of Justice (DOJ). However, many local jurisdictions and some states have adopted all or part of the ADAAG into their building code by reference, and Chapter 11 of the 2009 International Building Code (IBC) contains similar regulations with respect to accessibility, including references to the International Code Council American National Standard A117.1, the accessibility standard as defined by the ICC model code.

In July of 2004, a comprehensive update to the ADAAG was completed by the Access Board. However, the original standards as issued by the DOJ remain in effect (with revisions) pending the adoption of new standards which are to be based on the updated 2004 ADAAG. So, what does this mean for you?

If you’re a building owner or manager, the effects of the 2004 ADAAG include the following:
· Whereas the original 1994 ADAAG included only adult dimensions and anthropometrics, the updated 2004 ADAAG includes technical requirements for children also.
· The original 1994 ADAAG included a provision that allowed for “conventional building industry tolerances for field conditions”, revised in the 2004 version to state “dimensions that are not stated as maximum or minimum are absolute”. Therefore, if the thickness of tile on the walls of your toilet stall reduce the total clear width to 4’-11 ¾”, you won’t be in compliance.
· In restaurants, the 1994 ADAAG allowed an exception for access to mezzanine dining areas which were no more than 33 percent of the total accessible seating areas. The 2004 ADAAG reduces this allowable mezzanine seating area to 25 percent.
· The number of accessible public building entrances required in the 1994 ADAAG was at least 50%. This has been increased to 60% in the 2004 ADAAG. Therefore, if you had 2 building entrances and only one is accessible, you are no longer in compliance with the revised Guidelines.
· The cross-slope of and accessible route (including sidewalks) was limited to 1:50 in the 1994 ADAAG. The 2004 ADAAG has reduced the maximum cross-slope to 1:48.

These are bit a few examples of the various changes to the ADAAG in the current 2004 Guidelines, required once the adoption of the new Standards is made official by the Department of Justice. The Small Group recommends that any new projects incorporate the 2004 ADAAG as a minimum design standard in order to ensure full compliance with the imminent new Standards will be met.