GS&P to Create Charlotte Airport’s Master Plan for Signage and Wayfinding

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – July 6, 2015 – Gresham, Smith and Partners, a leading multi-disciplinary design and consulting firm for the built environment, has been selected to create and implement a master plan for signage and wayfinding at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). The scope of the three-phase project includes an assessment of existing passenger navigation, development of the master plan and implementation.

“A positive customer navigation experience directly impacts an airport’s brand perception and bottom line, especially at a major hub like Charlotte,” said Jim Harding, SEGD, director of environmental graphics at Gresham, Smith and Partners. “Clear and intuitive signs and wayfinding can be the difference between a happy, relaxed passenger and one who is confused and frustrated. It’s our pleasure to help the great staff and leadership at Charlotte Douglas International Airport provide an even better experience to their customers.”

Work has already begun on a comprehensive assessment of CLT’s gateway, roadways, curbside, parking areas, terminal, gates and other public areas. During this first phase, GS&P will conduct 2,000 customer surveys and a cost benefit analysis to help prioritize recommendations and set an overall strategy. In phase two, the firm will create a master plan to govern the removal, repositioning, or addition of signs, wayfinding aids, artwork, branding and marketing throughout the airport. Implementation of this plan will comprise phase three, along with the creation of CLT-specific signage and wayfinding standards to help the airport maintain a consistent look and feel with any additional features added in the future.

GS&P’s environmental graphics design professionals are recognized experts in their field and developed a widely-used reference manual of best practices for airport signage and wayfinding for the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), a Federal Aviation Administration sponsored initiative managed by the National Academies.

The firm has previously conducted signage and wayfinding studies for Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), Denver International Airport (DEN), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). GS&P is also currently working on two additional ACRP reports, one to help improve airport services for international customers and a second on wayfinding for older adults and persons with disabilities.

About Gresham, Smith and Partners:

Gresham, Smith and Partners provides design and consulting solutions for the built environment that contribute to the success of national and international clients. For more than 45 years, GS&P has focused on enhancing quality of life and sustainability within communities. GS&P consists of industry-leading professionals practicing architecture and engineering design as well as scientists and highly specialized planning and strategic consultants in Aviation, Corporate and Urban Design, Environmental Services, Federal, Healthcare, Industrial, Land Planning, Transportation and Water Resources. GS&P consistently ranks among the top architecture and engineering firms in the United States. For more information regarding GS&P, visit www.greshamsmith.com.