Design Guide: Recreation Centers Design Considerations January 1976
entrances of activity areas where there is a need
and standardization of application throughout
the Recreation Center. It should also inhibit
to elaborate upon the type of activity inside or
to give the names of participants and staff
vandalism but be flexible enough to enable the
addition or deletion of information. The
involved.
signage system should incorporate the types of
(2) Sign Design. Symbols tend to reduce the
signs discussed below.
amount of signage required and are easier to
assimilate than words. The use of symbols,
(a) Facility Identifier Sign. A facility
pictographs, and wall graphics should be
identification sign should be located in the
considered instead of words. However, if they
entry area oriented toward exterior pedestrian
are used, care should be taken in their design so
traffic. The sign should identify the building
that the information is communicated to and
number and the facility. It may also indicate
understood by the patrons. When words are
the hours of Center operation. Size of lettering
used, a legible and attractive Ietterform, such as
and the exact location of the sign should be
Helvetica Medium or Clarendon should be used.
determined in each individual case in relation to
Letter sizes should be appropriate for the
the architectural design.
message and be coordinated as part of the
(b) Activity Locator Signs. A building
overall design scheme. Signs should be located
activity locator sign should be provided in a
as close to eye level as possible and be
prominent place in the entry area. The locator
illuminated to provide adequate comprehen-
should identify and locate building spaces, key
sion.
activities and personnel. Use of a graphic
locator, such as a schematic building plan,
d. FURNITURE. Furniture is an integral part
should be considered.
of the overall design scheme, and will be closely
coordinated with the selection of colors and
(c) Identification Signs.
Individual
finish materials for consistency in appearance
spaces should be identified either by number
and quality. Detailed requirements are covered
and name signs or pictographs. The signs should
in Chapter 4, individual Space Criteria.
be located next to the door on the knob side.
(1) Durability, Comfort and Safety. Careful
(d) Direction Signs. Directions should
attention
must be given t o a l l i n t e r i o r
be provided to highly used spaces such as the
furnishings to insure that the type of furniture
snack bar or out-of-the-way spaces.
chosen conforms to standards of durabiIity,
comfort and safety, appropriate for the use
(e) Control and Safety Signs. Messages
they will receive. Being generally mobile,
to control the behavior of the patrons such as
furniture items are subject to handling. Parts
"No Smoking" or "No Food Permitted" must
that receive the most wear should be
be used to convey messages to patrons in a
replaceable, and finishes should sustain regular
friendly but firm manner. Since symbols and
cleaning.
pictographs cause less resentment and opposi-
tion than if the message is conveyed in words,
(2) Mobility and Interchangeability. Most
this type of sign should be used throughout the
interior furnishings should not be of a scale
Center. Also, the locations of exits, fire
which would require more than two persons to
protection and safety equipment should be
relocate them, or be so complicated as to
strongly emphasized.
require an undue amount of time to assemble
(f) Notice Boards. Notice boards help
or disassemble. Whenever possible, care should
be taken to choose multipurpose furnishings
control clutter and can readily accommodate
aesthetically suitable for a variety of needs and
changing information. They should be used
activities. Stackable and foldable furniture
throughout the building wherever they will be
should be considered for reducing bulkiness in
most useful. A general notice board should be
storage and transport where such requirements
located in the entry of the Recreation Center.
exist.
Smaller boards may be located next to
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