Wayfinding and Signage Master Plan Services

The government authority in Kalamazoo, Michigan is seeking professional services to develop a wayfinding and signage master plan for its downtown area. The project is intended to create a cohesive, user-friendly, and maintainable system that strengthens downtown identity, improves the sense of welcome, and enhances walkability for residents and visitors. The plan is expected to support navigation from parking areas, transit stops, and trailheads to key destinations, while also reinforcing placemaking, equity, access, and downtown branding.

Scope of work includes inventorying existing pedestrian signs and related elements, documenting their condition, visibility, obstructions, and compliance considerations. The selected vendor will also gather business and public input through map-based feedback tools and produce an engagement plan and summary showing how input informed recommendations. Additional requirements include recommendations for typography, graphics, iconography, contrast ratios, and nighttime legibility expectations.

The master plan must also include digital-ready assets such as layered vector artwork and web-ready image files for future use, along with conceptual placements for QR and NFC elements and related content governance considerations. A GIS-based location plan is required to identify proposed sign locations with unique asset IDs and attributes such as sign type, messaging, orientation, panel count, foundation type, and implementation phase. The work will also establish placement and siting standards covering mounting heights, curb offsets, ADA maneuvering clearance, clear zones, and intersection sightline rules.