Project name: Chinese University Medical Centre, Hong Kong
Client: CUHK Medical Centre
Sector: Hospitals
Location: Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
Role: Wayfinding strategy, exterior & interior signage designer – included strategic advice and guidance, signage planning and design from initial concept through to implementation and delivery on site.
The brief: The hospital site is approximately 14,000m², and comprises of an 11-storey new-build main uilding, with podium floors connected to two ward towers. The hospital has a capacity of 500+ in-patient beds together with outpatient, day treatment and Emergency Medical Centre facilities. Further venues are also provided for teaching for medical students, doctors, nurses and allied health workers, plus ancillary facilities for patient relations, shroff, pharmacy, registration, admissions, information counters, food and beverage, accounting office, security offi ce and control room etc. The car park provides spaces for private cars, motor cycles, ambulances and goods vehicles, plus an external main entrance drop-off for ambulance, taxi, minibus and private cars.
Outcome: Collaborating closely with the project Architects and Hospital-user groups, we worked towards providing solutions which humanise the scale of each fl oor into four smaller zones or ‘department groups’,
assisting users to orientate towards specific sides of the building to fi nd their destination. Represented by colour and consistently appearing on each directory floor plan, the user is able to associate with the relevant zone colour during their journey. The signage design utilises soft rounded edges for safety and matches the hospital materials and finishes, with each message panel being easily changeable to assist potential future operational changes. For improved legibility, contrasting colours, typographic style and size were carefully considered and tested. At key locations, tactile maps and signs ensure universal accessibility for relevant user groups.
Case study submitted by: Atelier Pacific.
