Gulf Shores Design Guide for Public Outdoor Spaces + Gateway Signage Design

Details:

  • City of Gulf Shores

  • Gulf Shores, Alabama

Highlights:

  • Public Space Design Standards
  • Integrated Signage Standards with Beach Master Plan
  • Multiple concepts for gateway signage
  • Coordinated collaboration with project fabricators

Description:

The City of Gulf Shores engaged TSW’s Landscape Architecture Studio to develop the Gulf Shores Design Guide for Public Outdoor Spaces + Gateway Signage Design, establishing cohesive design standards for all public spaces throughout the city. Built upon the Gulf Shores Branding and Wayfinding Project, the guidelines define typical streetscape elements such as lighting, benches, trash receptacles, bollards, specialty paving, and plant materials.

Gulf Shores, a community with a permanent population of approximately 15,000, welcomes more than 3 million visitors each year who come to enjoy its beaches, festivals, and year-round events. Tourism plays a central role in the local economy and community identity, making it essential that public spaces and wayfinding systems are clear, welcoming, and memorable. A key goal of the project was to create a cohesive visual and experiential identity that serves both residents and visitors while enhancing the overall sense of place.

These standards serve as a guide for the design and construction of parks, plazas, sidewalks, and other public areas—ensuring a consistent, high-quality, and visually unified aesthetic across the city. TSW also developed a graphic document illustrating and communicating these standards, designed for clarity and ease of implementation by future designers and contractors. The resulting framework supports the creation of public spaces that are safe, functional, and visually appealing for all.

As an additional effort and in coordination with TSW’s work on the Gulf Place Public Beach project, TSW also developed gateway signage for the City of Gulf Shores. The goal was to reinforce the identity established through the Gulf Shores Design Guide for Public Outdoor Spaces and create a memorable entrance to the city and its signature beachfront greenspace. TSW developed three design options, with the City selecting one that has since been implemented—welcoming visitors and residents while celebrating Gulf Shores’ distinctive character.