Creating Places: A Citizen Observer's Look at Nashville's Built Environment


Writer's Note: William Williams' interest in the manmade environment dates to 1970, at which point the then-young Williams started a collection of postcards of city skylines. The collection now numbers 1,000-plus cards. Among the writer's specific interests are exterior building design, city district planning, demographics, signage, mixed-use development, mass transit and green/sustainable construction and living. Williams began his Creating Places column with The City Paper in February 2005. The column in its original form was discontinued in September 2008 and reinvented via this blog in November 2008. Creating Places can be found on the home page of the website of The City Paper, at which Williams has worked in various capacities since October 2000.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Creating Places: Information signs of Nashville

After watching Episode 2 of Nashville — and now hoping that, at some point as the series unfolds,  Coleman Carlisle and Lamar Wyatt come to blows with the former pounding the smirk right off the visage of the smug latter (I suppose, given I'm compelled by the characters, that this means I'm now hooked on the show) — I felt inspired to submit a quick post regarding the new information signs that seemingly have sprouted throughout the city's core.

The good: The signs are of an appropriate height — tall enough to dissuade vandalism, via spray paint, but not so tall that they contribute to visual clutter — and secured by attractive black support poles. Some offer interesting wording (SoBro Attractions, West End District, Capitol Hill, etc.), while many are helpful (particularly to visitors to the city) and well placed.

The bad: The green and brown color scheme seems a bit odd. And on that theme, there is an inconsistency in that some of the signs are brown only. For that matter, some of the signs have a curvature at their tops and/or a Nashville logo while others do not.  The Nashville logo — as my friend Andi Stepnick recently remarked — suggests Hard Rock Cafe (however, and in fairness, the design and lettering of the "Nashville" have long been used by the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau). Some of the signs are placed such to confuse visitors or, as is the case with one in front of the 2525 Building on West End Avenue, in spots blinded by trees.

Grade: B








13 comments:

  1. They are a most welcome addition. I like the design. I'm sure some locations will need some tweeking over coming months and perhaps some additional ones will be needed. Great for Nashville.

    William, is Metro responsible for these signs? Who came up with them, the locations, etc.?

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    1. AMous,

      I think it was a combo of CVB and Metro. Good question.

      WW

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  2. I had no idea that wasn't a Hard Cafe logo until reading your post.

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    1. It does look very much like the Hard Rock Cafe logo! Not good!

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  3. A long needed feature; good on whomever is behind the signage.

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  4. I've noticed the new signs in places other than downtown and along West End. For example, there are signs near the Adventure Science Center and the Nashville Sounds ballpark directing drivers to I-40, I-65 and to Downtown. Very useful signs, especially for visitors.

    Is there a "master plan" for these signs? If so, it would be great to see all of them.

    A greally good idea and the signs are quite attractive too.

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    1. Leslie,

      Good question as to a "master plan." I don't think so but will ask around.

      WW

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  5. Indeed, it would be interesting to know more about the individuals driving this and other branding efforts for Metro Nashville.

    I know the Mayor has wanted to promote the "Music City" brand, but is this a broader effort lead by Metro Govt (Mayor Dean), the CVB, Chamber, etc.? Who is group, design firm ,or in-house guru behind the Nashville branding of the moment?

    I don't recall reading much about this. It would be an interesting story for the City Paper or Tennessean.

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    1. AMous,

      Good point. I'm about 99 percent certain it's the Convention and Visitors Bureau. I'll be interviewing CVB President Butch Spyridon soon and will ask him.

      WW

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  6. These new signs look great! Nashville can be confusing for drivers who are not familiar with the city. These will really help! Good job. Hope to see more of them.

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  7. The Nashville office of Parsons Brinckerhoff played a role in the design and location of the signs.

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  8. The wordmark on the picture you posted does resemble the Hard Rock wordmark, but the "live music venue" signs (in the shape of guitar picks) that have been around for several years use a font that is reminiscent of that used by Gibson Guitars.

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