Experiential Design: enhancing the tie between mission, vision and values and the campus experience
Creating an authentic, memorable experience of a place is fundamental to building a sense of community that bridges generations. It is the place—and the experiences associated with it—that become the shared experience. When people think of an organization, they envision the physical reality of it, which is often a building or campus. What it looks like, how easy it is to approach and navigate, how one feels and what one does while there affects the perception of the organization itself, not just the visit. Reputation and a sense of communal pride are tied to a well-executed design of the physical location.
Experiential design is conceived to influence both one’s experience of a place and one’s feelings for or about what the place represents. Experiential design heightens the genius loci, or spirt of place and aligns architecture, landscape, wayfinding, interpretive storytelling, and recognition of the people who are celebrated within the community that inhabits the physical space. Carefully crafted, the experience of a place can become a means of expressing the values and character of the organization associated with the place.
At Delbarton, the monks, students and alumni, families are dedicated to creating a place that communicates the specific character of St. Mary’s Abbey and the Delbarton School. The values shared by the community inform the way they treat one another and steward the place they to share. For example, the Benedictine monks make a vow of stability, promising to live their whole lives at Delbarton. There is a palpable appreciation of the longstanding and interconnected nature of the community and a willingness to celebrate how that history is manifest on campus. The School’s commitment to educating the mind, body and spirit of each student is evident in every aspect of campus life and there is real meaning to the notion of brotherhood that emanates from the Delbarton experience.
Heurista was invited to participate in an interlocking series of projects at Delbarton, all of which were designed to enhance the experience of the Morristown, New Jersey campus shared by St. Mary’s Abbey and the Delbarton School. From prospective parents, patrons of the arts and visiting sports teams, to those visiting St. Mary’s Abbey for church services or a retreat, Delbarton hosts a myriad of visitors. Wayfinding, the seemingly simple task of moving visitors from the entry gate to their intended destination, is a challenge on a campus like Delbarton. There are three entry gates. Parking rings the central academic campus, which is loosely linked to the buildings serving the monastic community. There are five separate complexes where sports are played on campus, and because the campus is private, there are no street addresses so GPS brings you only as far as the entrances, which are often several turns from the destination a visitor needs to reach.
Wayfinding
Both the Abbey and the School value hospitality, following St. Benedict’s directive to receive all visitors as Christ. With this in mind, Heurista was engaged to revamp all of the existing wayfinding signs. While the new sign design better aligns with the School’s brand, the real goal was to better assist visitors in finding their way about campus. Both of these goals contribute to an improved experience on the Delbarton campus.
The wayfinding signs include:
Distinctive two-sided monument signs, one at each of the three entrances
Campus maps at key pedestrian locations
Directional signs with a simplified strategy for guiding vehicular traffic through campus
Primary destination signs marking key locations important to visitors and including donor recognition when appropriate
Secondary destination signs marking other buildings and campus features
Interpretive kiosks to provide historical context for locations frequented by visitors
Interpretive Kiosks
At Heurista’s recommendation, signs were introduced at a number of locations most likely to be visited by new families or other visitors. The kiosks provide context for the specific location conveying the history and purpose of each building or athletic field. When appropriate, they recognize donors who have provided philanthropic support or honor key figures in Delbarton’s history. Each kiosk includes two QR codes linking to additional content housed within InsideDelbarton.org. This website was created using Philanthrosphere®, a digital storytelling platform sold by Heurista.
Environmental Graphics
Large environmental graphics were installed in areas frequented by students, staff and faculty, prospective families, and alumni:
Trinity Hall lobby and visitor registration area
Student Commons
Library/Learning Commons
College counseling offices
Primary stairwells
Heurista collaborated with Creative Dimensions to select products that are both durable and easy to update. Trusted local resources Cortese Masons and Morris Signs built the entrance signs. The project was accomplished with the support of the Delbarton’s Buildings and Grounds team, Institutional Advancement and Communications staff, school leadership and the monks of St. Mary’s Abbey.
To view the full scope of our work around the St. Mary’s Abbey and Delbarton School campus, click on the links below: