Upgraded mushrooms show the way

Among the many varieties of plants and trees on Caltech’s campus is a crop of three-foot-tall “mushrooms.”

These structures are not your garden-variety fungi—they are actually round, acrylic-covered cases set on concrete pedestals that hold upgraded and improved maps of campus. According to Associate Vice President for Campus Planning Art Elbert, the mushroom maps are the first step in a campaign to improve signage all across the Institute.

The six mushrooms now hold colorized maps of the campus that have also been organized on an alphanumeric grid, à la the renowned Thomas Guide street maps, to help wanderers find their way more easily.

The new maps were digitally printed on vinyl sheets, a process several times faster than the former method of reverse silk-screening, and are now far less susceptible to fading from sun exposure than were the old ones. In addition, the maps have gained clear acrylic covers with a UV-protective coating to shield them from sun damage.

Upgrading the maps more quickly and easily is important in light of ongoing campus expansion and renovation. Elbert stated, “We’re now in the process of building the new parking structure [under the south athletic field], and are planning the new astrophysics building and the upgrade of the south undergraduate housing.” In addition, Elbert noted, people and offices continue to be relocated on a fairly regular basis.

The upgraded mushroom maps—located at the southwest corner of Braun Lab; the east patio of the Keith Spalding Building; on California Boulevard between Sloan and East Bridge labs; the southeast corner of Lloyd House; the corner of Holliston Avenue and San Pasqual near Campus Planning; and west of Watson Lab—will also be reproduced as handouts for campus guests.

According to Elbert, Caltech is currently evaluating designers, who will eventually create “way-finding” signs that will welcome guests and enable them to navigate the campus and its buildings, whether on foot or driving.
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