West Lincoln Memorial Hospital

West Lincoln Memorial Hospital (WLMH) has a long and proud history in the community of Grimsby, Ontario. The redevelopment sought to ensure this building reflected the community and its history. Forge worked with the hospital to develop an experiential narrative theme through use of local biophilic theming and historic image placemaking. This approach became the framework for a wayfinding masterplan that integrated Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation (HHSC) standards for signage.

Delivering a high density of integrated graphics within a compact, modern hospital setting required navigating complex spatial constraints. We bridged these complexities through an iterative development process. By facilitating close workshops with the hospital team, end users and the architectural team, we translated the client’s unique identity and history into a cohesive, authentic visual language that resonates throughout the facility.

Our approach to creating a highly intuitive wayfinding experience for staff, patients and visitors also involved the development of static signage to meet the needs of people of all abilities. Using hospital standards as a guide, Forge crafted a robust sign program and identified where distinct information was needed for the new facility. This included designing signs with a sensibility of messaging and icons in specific cases for both staff and public.

Part of the WLMH hospital experience is creating opportunities for the community to celebrate moments of joy. Working closely with the hospital foundation team, Forge developed a themed baby wall to help ensure new parents and staff can enjoy a shared place of connection. The ‘A Star is Born’ wall was developed with the intent for future application of newborn names as applied stars. The initial single lobby location was expanded to include a larger location inside the department.