Downtown Chattanooga is in the process of becoming a more colorful and easier area to navigate. Along with a host of other downtown partners, River City Company is facilitating the implementation of new downtown maps and wayfinding signage along with refurbishing map kiosks to further beautify downtown and make it easier for visitors and residents alike to navigate the city. Additionally, River City Company is sponsoring new district specific banners to be placed downtown.
District banners are direct reflections of what makes each area distinct and cherished in the Chattanooga community.
Banners are being crafted for Northshore, Riverfront, Bluff View, City Center, MLK/UTC and Southside and include the name of each district in the recently developed Chatype font plus artistic depictions of popular elements of each district. For instance, the Riverfront banner includes the Tennessee Aquarium, Lookouts Stadium and stand up paddle boarders. The City Center banner includes nods to The Tivoli Theatre, Waterhouse Pavilion and working professionals.
The artistic depictions were created by local artist Karen Estes who also participated in Art in Motion, another River City Company program along with Public Art Chattanooga and CARTA that wrapped CARTA’s free electric shuttles in local artists’ designs. Ms. Estes states, “The Chattanooga community has a vibrant energy that really seems to think outside of the box…‘color outside of the lines’ so to speak. My hope is that these banner illustrations reflect the energy and fun that makes Chattanooga such a great place to live, work and play. “
Efforts to replace banners, kiosk maps and wayfinding signage have already started, and completion is slated for February 2013. The project’s scope includes 412 banners, 56 wayfinding panels in 40 locations and 9 downtown maps and refurbished kiosks found in the Northshore, Bluff View and Riverfront districts.
“Downtown signage and maps needed some refreshing,” states Jim Williamson, vice president of planning and development for River City Company. “We hope these upgrades will make downtown even more inviting while spotlighting the unique personalities each district exhibits and the variety Downtown Chattanooga has to offer.”
Wayfinding efforts started in 2001. River City Company has been involved with downtown banners since 1993.