The University has been iteratively introducing its new campus signage and location naming system over the past year, but from now, we will begin to phase out the old naming systems in timetabling, on campus signage and in booking systems.
“Property undertook a review of wayfinding signage across the entire campus, which involved consultation and workshops with representatives from various faculties, departments and stakeholders including students,” says Mark Broomfield, Director of Property. “The review found that the building reference system had lost its integrity and was confusing to most, especially for newcomers to campus. We began a soft roll-out of the new addresses, but it’s now time to finalise the change.”
The new address-based building identities are a standard system used across the globe and now replace the old E, W, C, X and F building naming systems, with the aim to make wayfinding on campus more intuitive.
Examples include:
- E7A is now 12 Wally’s Walk.
- E11A is now 19 Eastern Road.
- The BD building is now 4 Research Park Drive.
Building shorthand/abbreviations such as 12WW are provided on the map but should only be used amongst internal stakeholders.
New students starting from Session 1 next week will only see signage and building information in the new format. There will be no reference to the old names in enrolment, timetables and orientation.
Download the new Campus Map and Location Guide for reference.
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It would be interesting to know why Sir Christopher Ondaatjie Ave was named after him. I see from your website that he was writer in residence 2011 but find little other information about him unless proximity to some images indicates his endowment of them, but there is no actual indication that he was a benefactor of the University which I take to be the case given the naming of the Avenue. I know that he is a major benefactor of other institutions
What’s the name of the demountable lab behind E5A?
Were students consulted? I don’t recall receiving any form of communication asking for feedback.
Why are our uni fees being wasted on these changes? The building names system was already confusing enough, and this makes it more confusing.
I would have hoped the money I pay the uni is going to improving facilities, not changing signage.
Hi, please see http://my.mq.edu.au/news/2018/02/12/what-were-building-for-you/ for information on the significant investment the University is making in improving campus facilities for students.
The property team indicated that “…it’s the standard address system used across the globe (like your home address), rather than in universities across the globe…” – This is true up to certain extent. Although the world has no set rules of stretch of path leading from one place to another to use the title “Avenue/Road/Street/Lane/Parade” but Macquarie University have 2 paths called Sir Christopher Ondaatje Avenue, and Wally’s Walk, both are not usable by car (except special car by university).
Just an idea – why not simplify the road naming and use primarily Wally’s Walk as it stretches throughout the university – and every other building “attaches” to the original one has A/B/C/etc.
Example1: 14 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Avenue can be 12B Wally’s Walk (behind behind the original 12 Wally’s Walk).
Example2: E8A/E8B/E8C can all use the notion of 6A / 6B / 6C Wally’s Walk
Example3: 3 Science Road can be renamed to 13A / 13B Research Park Drive (to include both METS @ F9B, and the warehouse behind it F9C)
So the primary idea is to re-use one road name across the board, and if we have to, then use the other main road (note: Main Road – the bigger, more well known road. Hadenfeld Avenue is unfortunately a necessary thing to indicate buildings down that area)
So my idea
Guess who’s going to be late to a tute because of the silly new system.
I would prefer telling my friends “I’m having a tute at X5A” instead of “I’m having a tute at 14FW”, right? Simple.
#on9lia
It would take a few people with simple computer printed stickers a couple of days to go an put the new building names over the old building names (outside each lecture theatres and tutorial rooms, an next to all signs, like fire escape signs, major entrances). This would be a temporary solution that would solve a lot of frustration and embarrassment.
Can this please be done as a priority?
“New students starting from Session 1 next week will only see signage and building information in the new format. There will be no reference to the old names in enrolment, timetables and orientation.”
I’ve just been walking over campus, and a very large number signs are still in the old format?
Why not force the transition AFTER you have already replaced all the signs?
I spent a considerable amount of time trying to help new international students find a tutorial room in 4 Western Road (W5A), and it was very frustrating that almost all the signage still said W5A. There were a couple of signs that said 4 Western Road, but I would guess that 95% of actually signage installed by the university still said W5A.
I understand we are all human, and such transitions involve time, but why give students timetables that have directions to buildings that have 95% of their signage in the old format?
Hi Nicholas, thanks for taking the time to help the students find their tutorial room and apologies for the inconvenience you and they experienced. We’ve also observed students having difficulty finding 4 Western Road and are working to implement a temporary signage solution by early next week.
While we’ve been able to install 90% of the external signage already, the installation of the internal signage is a longer process requiring considerable resources. The University is tackling this in stages and has planned signage works throughout the year. However, based on the feedback from you and others, we’ll be making teaching buildings a priority.
We appreciate your patience as we work to resolve this as quickly as possible.
The search function on the campus map does not work with the abbreviations. That is likely to be confusing for people finding their classes next week because the timetable only gives the abbreviations.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Dominic. Our web team is looking into whether this can be fixed. In the meantime, a useful conversion list can be found under ‘What will my new building address be?’ at https://staff.mq.edu.au/support/office-and-property-services/property-services/property-projects/signage-rollout.
Not convinced that this system is standard across the globe. Every campus I’ve worked or studied at, or visited in a number of countries has named buildings, with an address as secondary information. Naming buildings for high profile faculty, alumni and others is an opportunity to create an identity that recognises the university’s history. This system seems indistinguishable from any generic suburb.
Hi Ross, it’s the standard address system used across the globe (like your home address), rather than in universities across the globe. The problem with the naming system you’re referring to is that building names give no indication of their position in relation to other buildings, impeding wayfinding. As stated above, the new Macquarie address system will make wayfinding on campus more intuitive. Hope that helps!
The wrong address has been quoted for the Faculty Store.
It should be.
14 Eastern Road room 186
Cnr of Science Road
The building is now where near Wallys Walk.
Its all quite good and proper to announce this. I don’t know about the other buildings but my building E8A has no new signage on it. The Faculty Store is located in this building and we accept most of the deliveries for the ten departments of the Faculty how are couriers supposed to find us??????????
Hi Joseph, thanks for your feedback. Can you kindly clarify which Faculty Store you’re referring to? Where has this been quoted?
The new address for E8A is 14 Eastern Road, as per the University Map. There is new signage outside your building, here’s an image of one of the entrances: https://mqoutlook.sharepoint.com/:i:/t/teamsites/Comms%20team/EZaU71gWdh1Apsh1Q6Plq6sBQoGrLoo3-eAjBB3TjtMThg
If you feel there is a need for a sign to be placed outside your Faculty Store, please send through a work order to Property and we will action it accordingly. Here is the link to the work order page: https://ofm.mq.edu.au/service_request.html
Hope that helps!
So where we once had easy to remember, logical and efficient names for identifying buildings and rooms, they have been replaced with long-winded and easy to forget “addresses”… This is what happens when you let bureaucracy rearrange the deck chairs.
The F5A glasshouses are at “5 Wally’s Walk” on the campus map and their new sign says “6 Eastern Road”
Thank you for your comment. We are aware of the issue, and the sign is being updated. The correct address is 5 Wally’s Walk. Apologies for any confusion.
What does iteratively mean?
It’s not in the Macquarie dictionary
Iteratively is an adverb of iterative and is in the Oxford Dictionary. Hope that helps!