Why building use shapes signage
Signage is more than lettering. It guides people through a building, shows them where they are and shapes the impression a property makes. In multi-tenant office buildings, business parks, shopping centres, mixed-use developments or converted industrial buildings, occupancy changes constantly. Signage that only reflects the situation on opening day becomes incomplete or contradictory within a few years.
Good signage is therefore developed from the specific situation: architecture inside and out, materials, colour schemes, lighting and visitors' routes. Only then can you decide which elements stay fixed and which must be able to change.
Flexible signage plans for the next tenant change from day one.
A system rather than many single signs
Most wayfinding systems consist of several levels. They change at different rates and should be built accordingly.
| Level | Examples | Frequency of change | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property and address | Building name, house number, entrance marking | Rarely | Robust and permanently fixed |
| Directional system | Signs to stairs, lifts, floors, parking | Occasionally | Fixed, with replaceable content |
| Tenant identification | Company signs, directory boards, letterboxes, doorbells | Often | Modular, easy and cheap to replace |
| Information | Floor plans, opening hours, notices | Continuously | Modular or digital |
| Safety | Escape routes, emergency exits, fire extinguishers | Only with structural changes | According to fire safety rules, not restyled |
Safety signs are non-negotiable
In Switzerland, escape route and safety signs are governed by fire protection regulations. They must remain recognisable even if the rest of the system is strongly designed. Clarify requirements with the fire protection authority and the specialist planners.
Modular, fixed or digital?
| Solution | Advantages | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Permanently fixed signs | Durable, high quality, low maintenance | Every change requires a new sign |
| Modular systems with inserts or interchangeable panels | Changes without tradespeople, uniform appearance | Higher initial investment, spare parts must stay available |
| Vinyl lettering | Cheap and quick to change | Less durable, quality depends on execution |
| Digital displays | Content updated centrally and instantly | Power, network, software, maintenance and device lifespan |
In practice, a combination often works best: a fixed basic structure for the property and directional system, modular elements for tenants, and digital displays where information changes daily, for example in the lobby of large office buildings.
An example: in an office building with twelve tenants, two or three companies change every year. If the directory board, floor signs and door plates are permanently engraved, each change requires new elements, a sign maker and often several weeks of waiting. With interchangeable inserts in the same grid, property management swaps the lettering itself and the appearance stays uniform.
With modular systems, make sure inserts, profiles and typefaces will still be available in a few years. Record font files, colour values and dimensions in a short design specification so that another supplier can also produce matching elements.
The property's brand and tenants' brands
A property often has its own identity, while tenants bring their brands. A good concept integrates the owner's existing corporate identity elements and defines where and in what form tenants may show their logos. This strengthens the overall appearance and lowers costs in the long run, because not every change requires a new design.
- Signage rules as part of the lease: formats, materials, colours, positions
- Clear cost rules: who pays for tenant signage when moving in and out
- Templates so that sign makers can implement new tenants without queries
- Check exterior signs early, as they usually require a municipal permit
Collaboration and operation
Regular exchange between the client, architects, sign makers, marketing and property management has proven efficient. Tenant signage can then be adapted simply and cheaply when tenants change, and nobody improvises with temporary signs.
- Analysis: record uses, visitor flows, architecture and lighting.
- Concept: define levels, design, materials and change logic.
- Implementation: test prototypes on site, then produce and install.
- Documentation: create a sign catalogue with locations, content and suppliers.
- Operation: assign responsibility for changes and review the system annually.
Plan for accessibility
Contrast, font sizes, mounting heights and tactile elements determine whether everyone can find their way. In Switzerland, the SIA 500 standard on barrier-free buildings is the reference. Take it into account from the outset; later corrections cost more.