New Builds vs. Existing Venues: Lessons from The Science of Wayfinding

One of the most interesting aspects of wayfinding planning is how different the process becomes when designing for a new venue versus improving an existing one. New builds offer the opportunity to shape navigation from the beginning through circulation planning, naming systems, sightlines, architecture, and environmental cues. The challenge, however, is that many operational decisions are still evolving during design. In some cases, the venue operator has not even been hired yet, making it difficult to validate how spaces will truly function on event day or how naming and operational strategies will ultimately be used.

Existing venues present a very different set of challenges. Legacy naming systems, years of operational workarounds, outdated architectural files, phased renovations, sponsorship overlays, and inconsistent circulation patterns often create layers of complexity that were never originally planned together. At the same time, existing facilities usually come with experienced operational staff who understand the venue intimately. That institutional knowledge is incredibly valuable, but it can also make it harder to identify opportunities beyond what has become familiar over time. Some of the most meaningful wayfinding improvements begin by questioning assumptions that have simply become accepted as "the way the building works."

Chapter 6 of my book, The Science of Wayfinding, explores the structured planning process behind both new and existing environments and the very different challenges they present. Whether working on a new stadium, convention center, airport, entertainment district, or historic venue retrofit, the goal remains the same: creating environments that feel intuitive, reduce stress, and help people move with confidence. The Science of Wayfinding releases this August. Preorder link in comments.