Derby Downtown Lighting & Signage Plan

01
Project Context &
Background
PROJECT CONTEXT & BACKGROUND
The Derby District is a hidden gem. Bolstered in recognition through
award-winning intersection improvements, a focus on healthy living and
community-building, an Anythink Library, and a network of stakeholders
and neighbors with a strong dedication to their community, Derby has both
a compelling history and a promising future. Recent planning work and
future infrastructure improvements offer great potential for district growth
and redevelopment, and the overall picture for Derby’s future is both clear
and exciting.
However, although visitors to Derby will be rewarded with a rich and
continually deepening experience of place, people and culture, knowledge
of how to access the community from major roadways (Highway 2 and 72
Avenue) is limited, and the visitor experience of many district destinations is
largely isolated and disconnected. Some of these disconnections are being
addressed through roadway and intersection improvements, however, the
branding, signage and wayfinding project represents a unique opportunity
to create a level of legibility, connection and storytelling for the Derby
District that has been missing. Envisioned as both a planning and design
project, the new branding and signage will not only raise awareness of the
district, it will also provide visitors with critical information regarding how to
access and move through the district, while simultaneously highlighting the
destinations and sense of place that make Derby unique and memorable.
More than just signage, the new wayfinding plan has the potential to
combine art, history, mapping and culture into interactive physical
orientation elements that reveal what is special and beloved about Derby.
The project overview
banner outlines
the preliminary
stakeholder outreach
questions and their
responses
Review of Past Planning & Design Efforts
Much work has already been completed in Derby, and reviewing these
past plans and visions was an important part of understanding the project
context. The following plans and documents were reviewed by the design
team during the initial project information-gathering efforts:
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Derby Sub-Area Design Guidelines
Derby Master Plan
Derby Planned Unit Development (PUD)
Derby Urban Renewal Documents
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Derby Lighting & Signage Plan