Temporary signage I Fondation La Tour en Communs

Temporary signage I Fondation La Tour en Communs

Design and installation of a temporary signage solution

The La Tour en Communs Foundation is transforming the former RTS Tower in Geneva into a shared space dedicated to democratic integrity. It brings together residents from a variety of fields: media, research, culture, civic engagement and philanthropy. This transformation is giving rise to new requirements in terms of wayfinding and coexistence amongst the different groups present in the building. The SCDH is developing a signage concept that improves wayfinding, creates a welcoming atmosphere and supports the venue’s new identity.

Term

June – August 2026

Client

Fondation La Tour en Communs

Translated with DeepL.

Context

Until now, this 17-storey tower in Geneva was known as the RTS Tower; today, this remarkable building, the former historic headquarters of the SSR, is being transformed into a meeting place for public and private media, research and citizen initiatives. The transformation of the RTS Tower into La Tour en Communs requires meticulous design.

It must convey a new identity, create a welcoming environment and facilitate wayfinding – right from the start of the transformation process. The SCDH is responsible for equipping the building’s interior, during this transitional period, with temporary signage featuring a new look; moving away from the red and metallic scheme to adopt a more neutral identity. Designed for the RTS’s historical uses, the existing signage must now adapt to the new ecosystem and facilitate wayfinding within this complex building.

Approach

Initially, SCDH staff carried out an on-site analysis of the existing signage. A site survey, accompanied by photographic documentation, identified more than 500 signage elements – directional signs, plaques and totems – which needed to be adapted. Taking into account the new ecosystem of La Tour en Communs, a signage and wayfinding concept based on factual data was developed to meet the needs of the various user groups identified.

Can users find the information relevant to them quickly and intuitively? Can they therefore find their way around the building safely? Are the planned typeface and colour recognisable and legible even for people with visual impairments? To ensure a clear understanding of users’ needs, a workshop is organised with users nominated by the stakeholders. The SCDH then defines the graphic and technical specifications and prepares the various elements for production. Manufacturing is carried out in collaboration with specialist production partners. The SCDH supports and coordinates the on-site installation at La Tour en Communs to ensure aof the concept developed.

“This signage project was conceived and developed with the extraordinary team at SCDH as a founding gesture: the space itself must convey, from the very beginning, that 'la Tour en Communs' is now a shared and common place.”

Yves Daccord

President, Fondation La Tour en Communs

Benefits

The client benefits from proposed solutions based on evidence-based, tested and inclusive data
The client benefits from a multidisciplinary team with a wide range of skills
Thanks to the targeted involvement of stakeholders, changes are supported from the outset and buy-in for the developed solution is fostered
The SCDH adopts a holistic view of the organisation, the space and its use, thereby taking future changes into account.

"SCDH’s user-centred approach has guided intentional, informed choices across strategy, design, colour, inclusion and well-being, creating a coherent temporary concept that supports the transition of La Tour en Communs and brings diverse entities together while preserving their distinct identities. Their user involvement, on-site testing and evidence-based recommendations have been central to the project’s success."