Product: Evacuation Maps (Vinyl Graphics with Non-Glare Acrylic Lens)
Location: San Francisco, CA
Client: O’Neil Langan Architects, P.C., New York
We love referrals! We were contacted by a local architect who was looking for a sign company that was familiar with the San Francisco Fire Department and their evacuation map guidelines. A fellow architectural concern, O’Neil, Langan Architects based in New York, was working with their client and general contractor Shawmut on renovations which would require updated evacuation maps for the Victoria Secret store on Powell Street in San Francisco.
The building that houses the Powell Street store also houses other tenants, so understanding the egress routes and layout necessitated a site visit. Due to the guidelines specifying the size of the letters, symbols and accompanying map, the overall dimensions of the six maps are 15” by 24”. Some adjustments had to be made regarding where the maps were hung given the limited wall space. In one instance the map location was changed and a new one was needed (with the orientation rotated to the new location). These maps feature non glare acrylic lens to aid visibility in the event that they are being read during a fire. The light on the fireman’s helmet would make the map less legible if the lens was not of the non-glare variety.
The coordination between the design staff and the architect on the east coast (and the contractor’s project engineer in Los Angeles), made communication and project management skills essential. Even so, the project took several months to complete based on delays and communication lags between the architect and the general contractor. However, everyone is very pleased with the results as you can see from the pictures above.
Our services included providing the scaled and printed versions of the maps to be used during the approval process at San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection. These maps are reviewed by the Fire Department for accuracy and for the correct orientation. An inaccurate orientation could slow down or confuse someone attempting to exit the building during a fire.
Our end client, Victoria Secret, is known for its house brand women’s lingerie, plus pajamas, loungewear and beauty products. The Powell Street store is housed at the same location as the upscale Union Square Westin Saint Francis, a four star luxury hotel. The retailer has over 1,100 stores worldwide and dominates the women’s lingerie segment.
If you have been tagged by the Fire Department in either San Francisco or Oakland and are looking to have your evacuation maps updated or redrawn, SignWorks can provide excellent service. We understand the requirements for compliance with the Fire Department guidelines and have worked on several similar projects in both locales. We can be reached at (510) 357-2000 to talk about your upcoming evacuation map project or you can check out some of the pictures of similar projects at our website at www.signworks.us.com.
