Alberta Hospital Ponoka Wayfinding Signage Program

This hospital site is a campus-like complex in a parkland setting south of Ponoka. The architectural organization of spaces, the single-story character of treatment buildings, their residential-like finishes, and plans that optimize daylight entry into rooms are important features of the facility design.

The project design parameters reflect the intent of the client, whose objective was to go beyond signs in developing a unique, site-specific wayfinding program that works on a variety of levels to enhance the appearance, interest, and function of the hospital environment. Meetings with the client and architects explored opportunities to create a meaningful identity for the facility and different interior spaces. The designers looked at design elements like color, imagery, and artifacts with consideration of the landscape, culture, history, community, psychology, and perception to determine an appropriate, functional palette of options for the program.

The team included a leading clinical researcher in cognitive psychology, visual search, and vision and aging to help establish principles and human factors performance criteria for specific patient groups, elder visitors, etc. They developed a nomenclature and visual vocabulary that differentiates areas and destinations for caregivers, residents, and visitors. Conceptual planning and design incorporated thematic graphics and demonstrated the potential use of artifacts, public art, and design installations as an expression of the facility identity and enhancement of the environment.