Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Requirements
All university signage must comply with scoping and technical requirements for accessibility to buildings and facilities by individuals with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. These scoping and technical requirements are to be applied during the design, construction and alteration of buildings and facilities covered by Titles II and III of the ADA to the extent required by regulations issued by federal agencies.
Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) for Buildings and Facilities, Appendix A, Part 1191 has been used as the governing reference for the Interior Signage Standards.
Font
Gotham Narrow Book
Gotham Narrow Book is the primary font to be used on campus interior signage. Lettering should be shown in white on blue backgrounds and in blue on silver backgrounds.
Gotham Narrow Medium
Gotham Narrow Medium will only be used in instances where a bolder typeface in necessary.
Font Reasoning
Gotham Narrow Book was chosen after a case study was completed to determine the best and most effective font for Boise State signage needs and existing brand standards.
Character Proportions
The stroke width of the upper case “I” must be 15% of the letter height or less. The character width of the uppercase “O” must be between 55% adn 110% of the height of the corresponding uppercase “I”.
Copy Height for Tactile Information
Limited to be between 5/8 inch and 2 inches.
Tactile Font Character Spacing
The distance between characters on tactile copy must be a minimum of 1/8 inch and a maximum of 4 times the character stroke width. These distances are measured between the closest points of adjacent characters.
Tactile Font Line Spacing for Multiple Lines of Raised Copy
Spacing between lines of copy to be a minimum of 135% and a maximum of 170% of the corresponding uppercase “I” height measured from baseline to baseline.
Pictograms
Approved Boise State University pictograms should be used on all appropriate signage. These pictograms will be used based on ADA guidelines and Boise State standards.
If a pictogram is not shown, or if a deviation from the shown standard is needed, a request will need to be made to the Boise State Signage and/or Brand Committee(s).
Download the approved pictograms here.
Color Palette
Color is an integral part of the Boise State University identity. To maintain recognition of the identity, the official Boise State color palette must be used. Blue is to be the dominant color.
Due to limitations in manufacturing processes and materials, accurate color cannot be assured but the best effort will be made to assure the most accurate colors possible will be used.
Grey Used as Metallic / Silver
Boise State Interior Signage Standards include a silver/ brushed aluminum finish which is used as a deviation from the university’s standard grey. This finish should be used in all silver signage applications.
Mounting Guidelines
Unobstructed
Where permanent identification is provided for rooms and spaces, signs shall be installed on the wall adjacent to the latch side of the door or the call button side of an elevator.
Obstructed
Where there is no wall space adjacent to the latch side of the door, including at double leaf doors, signs shall be placed on the nearest adjacent wall.
Side Light
Where there is a side light adjacent to the latch side of a door, signs shall be placed on the side light and a vinyl backer will be applied to the anterior glass surface.
Mounting Height
Mounting height shall be 60 inches above the finished floor to the center line of the sign. Mounting location shall be fixed so that a person may approach within 3 inches of signage without encountering protruding objects or standing within the swing of the door.
Overhead Signage
Mounting height for all overhead or cantilevered signage shall be 80 inches or more about the finished floor to the bottom of the sign.