Calgary +15 Wayfinding

Client City of Calgary
Location Calgary, Canada
Years 2020 – ongoing
Services Wayfinding, Signage Design, Brand & Visual Identity, Information Design

Snaking through skyscrapers across the city’s downtown, the +15 Skywalk is a 16km indoor pedestrian network of elevated walkways and 86 bridges connecting over 100 buildings. +15 is well-used by people who live, work, and visit downtown, but it can be a challenge to navigate.

The City of Calgary commissioned Steer to develop a clear wayfinding system that improves accessibility and makes it easier to use the +15 Skywalk network, attracting more people and creating a better overall experience. Modernizing the +15 wayfinding system will also help to integrate the Skywalk with transit and street-level amenities, supporting Calgary’s downtown and local businesses.

To understand users’ needs as they navigate +15, we carried out an extensive online programme of public and stakeholder consultation which revealed long-standing wayfinding issues, and users’ aspirations for a seamless wayfinding experience.

Equipped with these insights, we developed a wayfinding strategy that includes a new signage system and network map, as well as guidance for implementation, governance, and long-term maintenance of the system. Our design draws inspiration from the original +15 identity designed in the 1980’s by Lance Wyman, while shifting the system toward more modern all-encompassing identity.

We continue to support the City as it moves toward implementing the 1000+ signage elements that make up this this comprehensive wayfinding system.