Downtown wayfinding study
Finding Cambridge
Connecting arrival, discovery, and a stronger sense of place.
- Location
- Cambridge, Maryland
- Assignment
- Downtown wayfinding study
- Client
- Cambridge Main Street, Inc. (Downtown Cambridge)
01 / The challenge
What the project needed to resolve
Limited and inconsistent signage made it harder for visitors to find downtown destinations, parking, and the connections between Cambridge’s commercial and cultural districts.
02 / The contribution
How the work addressed the question
Causeway combined survey feedback and local conversations with a review of the visitor journey. The study developed a hierarchy of gateways, directional signs, and destination markers, supported by design concepts, materials guidance, and recommended locations.
03 / The deliverables
What the assignment produced
- Community survey synthesis
- Wayfinding hierarchy & concepts
- Sign location mapping
- Materials and implementation guidance
04 / The next decision
What the work made clearer
Downtown Cambridge gained a coordinated plan for helping visitors find destinations, parking, and connections across downtown. The study established a sign hierarchy, design direction, recommended locations, and implementation guidance that the organization can use to organize the next phase of work.
The completed study provides the plan and strategy for moving toward implementation as funding and local coordination allow.
Project credits
Client: Cambridge Main Street, Inc. (Downtown Cambridge). The study was funded through a technical assistance grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Causeway’s role: wayfinding research, strategy, and concept development. Photography: Jameson Harrington.
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