![An orange wall sign on an orange wall in a rock-like shape that says "3102" and displays a wheelchair and toilet icon.](https://hcma.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Case-Study-Hero-Carousel.jpg)
PEXSISEN Elementary & Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School signage
Location
Langford, BC
From the beginning, the idea of transitions and growing up was a central concept in the design of PEXSISEN Elementary & Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School, which share a site in the rapidly growing community of West Langford. Situated within a landscape marked by striking rock formations and a steep sloping hill, a design language that invokes jagged edges as an extension of the land’s character also began to emerge. Signage for the schools brought these two concepts together.
As a place of play, the elementary school’s signs take the form of rounded pebble-like shapes that reinforce the space as a nurturing and guided environment. As the children move to middle school, more individual freedom of expression develops, along with a stronger sense of self. This transition is translated into signs with rock-like formations, with more definition and sharper edges.
Disciplines
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Thoughtful design decisions show how best practices in accessibility and sustainability don’t have to limit creativity. Across both schools, signs vary in shape room to room for a unique identification system that creates understated moments of surprise. This variety is the outcome of a fabrication process that prioritized the maximum use of materials to minimize waste. On transparent glazing, sign shapes appear as graphics that offer characterful moments to the interiors – a creative accent that also fulfills code requirements for visibility strips.
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![](https://hcma.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/px-sm.jpg)
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Both signage systems embrace colour palettes that complement and broaden the interior strategy. The signage typography strategy emerged from looking at forms and letters with a youthful, airy feeling that would also contrast well with more dense shapes and rock structures.
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![](https://hcma.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/px-med-1.jpg)