We Translate Wayfinding into a Coordinated BIM Language

By Arya Mir Yekta

1. Why DEXD Brings Wayfinding into the BIM Environment

As BIM continues to shape the foundation of modern architecture and engineering, signage and wayfinding often remain a step behind—still developed in isolation using 2D tools or standalone software. While these methods may feel familiar to wayfinding teams, they introduce a disconnect in today’s highly integrated design and construction workflows. BIM is no longer just a drawing platform—it’s a collaborative, data-rich environment where architecture, structure, and MEP systems are coordinated in real time. When signage is excluded from this ecosystem, it becomes invisible during clash detection, disconnected from spatial constraints, and continually reactive to decisions it had no part in. This not only delays integration but places signage at risk—especially during late-stage construction, when design changes are most expensive. This fragmentation becomes especially critical in complex infrastructure projects like subway systems, where signage plays an operational—not decorative—role. A single station might require hundreds of signs, each with its own mounting conditions, visibility logic, structural dependencies, and data attributes. Every one must comply with rigorous wayfinding standards, align with construction tolerances, and meet graphic design guidelines. Without BIM integration, each of these signs becomes a potential risk—delaying coordination, triggering costly revisions, and undermining the user experience of the final environment.

2. A BIM Methodology That Works

To bridge this gap, we’ve developed a refined BIM-based process that integrates wayfinding into the heart of the model—ensuring seamless coordination across disciplines. Nearly 100% of our signage workflow now lives directly in the BIM environment, from post-design through to construction. No more disconnected 2D overlays—just a scalable, intelligent system that ensures clarity and constructability.

Take the Scarborough Subway Extension (SSE) project as an example. Across nine stations, we coordinated more than 4,000 unique signs, each carrying over 60 parameters—including material specs, graphic content, messaging, spatial data, and construction details. That’s more than 240,000 pieces of information—managed in one coordinated model. And we didn’t just model signs—we embedded them within the design logic, connected them to construction workflows, and delivered them ready for fabrication.

Thanks to our BIM-integrated approach, this complexity becomes manageable—streamlined through automation, parameterized families, and model-driven data management. What emerges is more than documentation; it’s a living system.

3. Rethinking How Wayfinding is Delivered

Wayfinding should never be an afterthought. By bringing it into the BIM process from day one, we create clarity, accountability, and buildability—ensuring signage is part of the spatial and technical conversation at every step.

We’re proud to be advancing this shift in how wayfinding is delivered—especially on complex, high-stakes projects like the SSE. And we welcome collaborators who share our vision: that smart design isn’t complete without integrated wayfinding.