Creating Effective Campus Wayfinding Systems: The Science of 'Where' at Mt. San Antonio Gardens

Wayfinding is more than just putting up signs—it’s about making spaces easier to navigate, safer, and more welcoming. At Mt. San Antonio Gardens, a retirement community spread across 31 acres, wayfinding became essential to enhance the residents’ experience. With nature paths, cottages, and healthcare facilities, finding your way around such a large, tranquil estate can be daunting. That’s where campus wayfinding systems come in. Explore how A&I helped transform this beautiful property through clear, accessible signage.

The Importance of Wayfinding in Large Spaces

Navigating through large environments like Mt. San Antonio Gardens can be challenging. This retirement community is home to about 500 residents who enjoy a peaceful setting filled with meadows, ponds, and serene walking paths. However, the size and natural beauty can make it easy to get lost. Effective campus wayfinding systems are essential in such settings to guide residents, visitors, and staff to their destinations smoothly.

Clear signage helps:

Reduce confusion and frustration.
Enhance safety by providing clear routes and markers.
Create a more inviting environment for residents and guests.

Updating Signage at Mt San Antonio Gardens

When the Mt. San Antonio Gardens staff reached out to us, they needed to update old and weather-worn signs. The goal was to create a wayfinding system to help residents and visitors find their way around more easily. We designed and installed new directional signage, labeled buildings and apartments, and even created a memorial plaque for a beloved resident.

Types of Wayfinding Signage

Wayfinding signs need to be simple and clear, allowing people to navigate the space quickly. The three most common types of signage we installed include:

Directional Signage: Helps guide people through the campus with arrows and distance markers.
Identification Signage: Labels buildings, rooms, and amenities such as apartments, dining halls, and healthcare centers.
Informational Signage: Provides helpful information, such as directories or emergency instructions.

In a prior project, A&I improved the Mt. San Antonio Gardens wayfinding system with all new street signs, exterior wayfinding and directional signage, and interior wayfinding and ADA signs.

With this project, A&I fabricated and printed signs to be installed as building identification letters for each of The Apartment complexes, apartment unit door plates, address numbers for numerous resident homes within the campus, large unit plates for condo units, informational signage, and memorial plaques. Each sign was designed to be easily visible and simple to understand, especially for older residents.

Wayfinding for Residential Buildings

At Mt. San Antonio Gardens, wayfinding is essential for ensuring residents and visitors can easily navigate the community. A&I installed modern, durable signs throughout the campus to enhance visibility and update aging signage.

The Cottages

For The Cottages, single-family homes on the property, we installed five-inch tall acrylic address numbers in a smooth ivory satin finish. The previous signs were small, weather-worn, and difficult to read, making it challenging for visitors and residents to locate the correct homes. The new, larger numbers are easy to spot, offering clear identification for each cottage.

The Apartments

For The Apartments, A&I installed bold, custom-fabricated letters—A, B, C, D, and E—on the exterior of each building. These 10 to 12-inch tall brushed gold titanium letters are highly visible from a distance while perfectly complementing the architectural style and exterior color palette.

A&I replaced old door plates of each unit inside The Apartments with new brass plates measuring 4.5″ by 2″. These plates were designed with the apartment letter and unit number, making identification easy and readable while adding a touch of elegance.

The Terraces

At The Terraces, a multi-level condo-style complex, we fabricated sleek 7-inch wide aluminum unit signs. These were painted in metallic gold satin with black printed unit numbers. Each sign was finished with a UV protective coat, ensuring durability and a lifetime indoor and outdoor use warranty.

Memorial and Historical Signage

Rainbow Fountain

Signage can do more than direct; it can also preserve memories and honor the past. A perfect example of this is the Rainbow Fountain at Mt. San Antonio Gardens. Jack Edwards, a resident who passed away in 2019, donated this tranquil pond. A&I crafted a 4×6 bronze plaque with precision-tooled edges and a protective coating to honor his memory. This plaque is now a lasting tribute, mounted securely near the pond.

300 Year Old Oak Tree

Additionally, to celebrate the history of the Gardens’ magnificent 300-year-old oak tree, residents dedicated a plaque to this tree titled “Staying Alive.” A&I created a custom aluminum sign with a clear, protective coating to withstand the elements, ensuring the tree’s story will be remembered for years to come. This plaque beautifies the space and provides residents with a sense of connection to the natural world.

Cutting Garden

Wayfinding isn’t just about guiding people; it’s also about making spaces more inviting. In the campus’ Cutting Garden, where flowers and vegetables are grown, A&I created a matching sign that complements the other directional signs on the property. This sturdy aluminum sign welcomes residents and visitors to enjoy the garden’s beauty. The clear-coated weather-resistant sign helps keep the area cohesive and inviting.

Transforming Spaces Through Thoughtful Wayfinding

Creating effective campus wayfinding systems is about more than just putting up signs—it’s about transforming the overall experience of a space. At Mt. San Antonio Gardens, our signage solutions beautified the campus and made navigation smoother for residents and visitors. From clear directional signs to elegant buildings IDs, unit plates, and custom plaques, thoughtful wayfinding design helps create a more connected, safe, and welcoming environment for everyone.

Ready to Enhance Your Space with Custom Signage?

Signage does more than guide—it communicates, enhances, and transforms environments. Whether it’s welcoming visitors, ensuring safety, or boosting the beauty of your campus, signage is essential. At A&I, we specialize in creating custom wayfinding systems that improve navigation while elevating the look of your space. We have the solutions you need to refresh and revitalize your facility.