Surry Hills Library & Community Centre

Signage & Wayfinding

Designed by FJMT Architects and City of Sydney, the new Surry Hills Library and Community Centre is an eco-sustainable building with the highest efficiency rating of any government building in Australia.

Collider was asked to create the principle signage for the centre, which was a great opportunity to make something permanent and lasting. The design work included four elements – the main entrance and the three floor directories. The directories, in sympathy to the materials they exist within, are designed to feel like large tilted switches or books roughly stacked.

Each module not only holds the description of the destination but also tilts towards that destination. The proximity of the destination determines the angle of the tilt. The angularity of the tilted entrance type bows to the entering public while mimicking the angle of the internal glass facade.

Consulting Architects. Akin Creative

Signage & Wayfinding — charcoal directory blades stepping across a tiled entry wall

In 2009, Collider completed the principle signage for the new Surry Hills Library and Community Centre, an eco-sustainable building with the highest efficiency rating of any government building in Australia.

Raised lettering on the black entry monolith, catching low sun beside a bare winter tree
Level directory in pale timber listing the neighbourhood centre, library, toilets and lift
Surry Hills Library & Community Centre directory blades set into a warm timber wall

The directories, in sympathy to the materials they exist within, are designed to feel like large tilted switches or books roughly stacked.

Experience design detail — the full floor directory routed into blond timber panelling
Level 2 Child Care cut into a white wall beside a slim timber signage blade
Surry Hills Library wayfinding blades in white with timber edges, marking toilets and lift
City of Sydney lettering standing proud of the dark entry pylon in raked afternoon light
The library and community centre glowing at night behind its planted glass facade

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