Northside Center for Child Development
Base Building Signage
Environmental Graphics
Wayfinding Signage
Location
New York, New York
Designer
Piscatello Design Centre
Principal: Rocco Piscatello
Design Lead: Christopher Lum
Awards
Best of the Year Awards | Interior Design – Social Impact Category, Honoree
Northside Center for Child Development is the first full-time child guidance center offering psychological and casework services to families in the Harlem area.
They were influential in the Civil Rights movement and their expertise allowed them to testify as expert witnesses in several school desegregation cases, including Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954.
Piscatello Design Centre was tasked to make their new space feel like home, dedicating the space to the Clark’s legacy and provide a safe, approachable learning environment for families in the area.
Under the guidance of Rocco Piscatello, I led a team of three people to design the Base Building Signage Program, under the accordance of ADA Guidelines, develop a comprehensive Wayfinding Signage system for the staff, doctors, & students, and curate environmental graphics throughout the space. I created all final artwork assets for production.
Scope of Work
The ADA Code Signage consists of Room Identification Signage that incorporates a changeable message slip-in. The acetate print with black messages are inserted into the clear acrylic window.
The top portion of the ID sign is white and the lower portion background color of the ID sign is the same color spec as the client’s walls, Benjamin Moore 2065-70 Bashful Blue in eggshell.
On the left, the Clinic entrance shows the Wayfinding system that was implemented throughout Northside: Wing A is the clinic, Wing B is the east wing of the school and Wing C is the west wing of the school. The Wings are further broken down into multiple directories with directions to various rooms - A1, A2, A3 Directory, etc.
The white portion of the Wing Wayfinding Directories are large inserts that can be swapped out if the room messages change.
Large-scale Environmental Graphics showcasing the works of Faith Ringgold and Synthia Saint James are located in reception areas of the entrance lobby and clinic.
The main stairwell in the renovated school is dedicated to agency’s founders and their impact to advocate for racial integration of NYC Public Schools.
