The new signs are made with photopolymers, which support the addition of braille and other tactile elements where appropriate.
Business magnate Li Ka Shing’s foundation had already funded health-care knowledge institutes in the U.S., U.K. and China when it became the major international donor to the new St. Michael’s building. The major local donor was the Keenan family, which had been involved in the project since earlier in its development.
“A strategy was needed to recognize both of these donors in the right ways,” says Henderson. “The Keenan Research Centre would be part of the Li Ka Shing Institute.”
The building was named in 2006 and built starting in 2007. The broader fundraising campaign continued well into the construction period.
“We didn’t really know our signage requirements until the campaign was almost done,” says Henderson. “It was like a planned-out afterthought.”
So, as construction neared completion in 2010, Acumen was commissioned to fabricate all donor recognition elements, including exterior signs, engraved plaques and infilled panels, based on drawings by Hahn Smith Design.
“They called us in to speak with the donor committee and then we had about two months from that meeting to complete a tremendous quantity of signage,” says Tsoutsos. “There was a lot of urgency. We made sure we had a dedicated team to work with. There were big drawings and panels to be engineered, but with that level of co-operation, we were able to make it happen efficiently. It was a real team effort.”
The donor recognition system encompasses aluminum lettering, plaques and large-format glass panels, one for each of two lobbies. Donors of more than $1 million were represented with cut, raised brushed-aluminum letters. Those below $1 million were etched into the panels instead.
As the campaign continued and updates rolled in, however, there was no way to build permanent signage for all donors in time for the building’s grand opening in 2011. Instead, Acumen sprayed foam-core lettering with silver paint to serve as a temporary placeholder.
“We had a few temporary plaques up for the opening event, but most were the permanent ones,” says Tsoutsos.
“Acumen saved the day,” says Henderson. “They met our ever-changing timelines and we had a great working relationship with them on a daily basis. And as the redevelopment of St. Michael’s continues, there will be new donor recognition signs to come.”
With files from Acumen Visual Group and St. Michael’s Hospital. For more information, visit www.ideasbuilt.ca and www.stmichaelshospital.com.
