diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/level.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/level.py
index c0c3f824..5c10dcbb 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/level.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/level.py
@@ -92,5 +92,6 @@ class Level(SpecificLocation, models.Model):
         return unary_union(tuple(item.geometry.buffer(0)
                                  for item in chain(self.altitudeareas.all(), self.buildings.all()))).bounds
 
-    def get_icon(self):
-        return super().get_icon() or 'layers'
+    @property
+    def effective_icon(self):
+        return super().effective_icon or 'layers'
diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/locations.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/locations.py
index 1b8f1b50..f7236653 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/locations.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/models/locations.py
@@ -124,25 +124,19 @@ class Location(LocationSlug, AccessRestrictionMixin, TitledMixin, models.Model):
             result = {name: result[name] for name in fields if name in result}
         return result
 
-    def _serialize(self, search=False, **kwargs):
-        result = super()._serialize(**kwargs)
-        result['subtitle'] = self.subtitle
-        result['icon'] = self.get_icon()
-        result['can_search'] = self.can_search
-        result['can_describe'] = self.can_search
-        if search:
-            result['add_search'] = ' '.join((
-                *(redirect.slug for redirect in self.redirects.all()),
-                *self.other_titles,
-            ))
-        return result
+    @property
+    def add_search(self):
+        return ' '.join((
+            *(redirect.slug for redirect in self.redirects.all()),
+            *self.other_titles,
+        ))
 
     def details_display(self, **kwargs):
         result = super().details_display(**kwargs)
         result['display'].extend([
             (_('searchable'), _('Yes') if self.can_search else _('No')),
             (_('can describe'), _('Yes') if self.can_describe else _('No')),
-            (_('icon'), self.get_icon()),
+            (_('icon'), self.effective_icon),
         ])
         return result
 
@@ -175,7 +169,8 @@ class Location(LocationSlug, AccessRestrictionMixin, TitledMixin, models.Model):
                 return (0, group.category.priority, group.hierarchy, group.priority), color
         return None
 
-    def get_icon(self):
+    @property
+    def effective_icon(self):
         return self.icon or None
 
 
@@ -281,8 +276,9 @@ class SpecificLocation(Location, models.Model):
             return (0, 0, 0)
         return (0, groups[0].category.priority, groups[0].priority)
 
-    def get_icon(self):
-        icon = super().get_icon()
+    @property
+    def effective_icon(self):
+        icon = super().effective_icon
         if icon:
             return icon
         for group in self.groups.all():
@@ -554,7 +550,7 @@ class DynamicLocation(CustomLocationProxyMixin, SpecificLocation, models.Model):
                 'available': False,
                 'id': self.pk,
                 'slug': self.slug,
-                'icon': self.get_icon(),
+                'icon': self.effective_icon,
                 'title': str(self.title),
                 'subtitle': '%s %s, %s' % (_('currently unavailable'), _('(moving)'), self.subtitle)
             }
@@ -563,7 +559,7 @@ class DynamicLocation(CustomLocationProxyMixin, SpecificLocation, models.Model):
             'available': True,
             'id': self.pk,
             'slug': self.slug,
-            'icon': self.get_icon(),
+            'icon': self.effective_icon,
             'title': str(self.title),
             'subtitle': '%s %s%s, %s' % (
                 _('(moving)'),
diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/model_base.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/model_base.py
index 93915785..dfdedab6 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/model_base.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/model_base.py
@@ -96,8 +96,13 @@ class LocationSchema(WithAccessRestrictionSchema, TitledSchema, LocationSlugSche
         example="near Area 51",
     )
     icon: Optional[NonEmptyStr] = APIField(  # todo: not optional?
-        title="icon name",
-        description="any material design icon name",
+        title="set icon name",
+        description="as set in the object specifically (any material design icon name)",
+        example="pin_drop",
+    )
+    effective_icon: Optional[NonEmptyStr] = APIField(  # todo: not optional?
+        title="icon name to use",
+        description="effective icon to use (any material design icon name)",
         example="pin_drop",
     )
     can_search: bool = APIField(
diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py
index 470f9a7b..34be2f74 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/schemas/models.py
@@ -387,8 +387,13 @@ class CustomLocationSchema(BaseSchema):
         description="slug, identical to ID"
     )
     icon: Optional[NonEmptyStr] = APIField(  # todo: not optional?
-        title="icon name",
-        description="any material design icon name",
+        title="set icon name",
+        description="as set in the object specifically (any material design icon name)",
+        example="pin_drop",
+    )
+    effective_icon: Optional[NonEmptyStr] = APIField(  # todo: not optional?
+        title="icon name to use",
+        description="effective icon to use (any material design icon name)",
         example="pin_drop",
     )
     title: NonEmptyStr = APIField(
@@ -470,8 +475,13 @@ class TrackablePositionSchema(BaseSchema):
         example="p:adskjfalskdj",
     )
     icon: Optional[NonEmptyStr] = APIField(  # todo: not optional?
-        title="icon name",
-        description="any material design icon name",
+        title="set icon name",
+        description="icon as set in the location specifically (any material design icon name)",
+        example="pin_drop",
+    )
+    effective_icon: Optional[NonEmptyStr] = APIField(  # todo: not optional?
+        title="icon name to use",
+        description="effective icon to use (any material design icon name)",
         example="pin_drop",
     )
     title: NonEmptyStr = APIField(
diff --git a/src/c3nav/mapdata/utils/locations.py b/src/c3nav/mapdata/utils/locations.py
index f3313779..7b3a643c 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/mapdata/utils/locations.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/mapdata/utils/locations.py
@@ -458,7 +458,8 @@ class CustomLocation:
     def subtitle(self):
         return self.title_subtitle[1]
 
-    def get_icon(self):
+    @property
+    def effective_icon(self):
         return self.icon
 
     @property
diff --git a/src/c3nav/site/static/site/js/c3nav.js b/src/c3nav/site/static/site/js/c3nav.js
index d59fc445..72523e9d 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/site/static/site/js/c3nav.js
+++ b/src/c3nav/site/static/site/js/c3nav.js
@@ -969,7 +969,7 @@ c3nav = {
     },
     _build_location_html: function (location) {
         var html = $('<div class="location">')
-            .append($('<i class="icon material-symbols">').text(c3nav._map_material_icon(location.icon || 'place')))
+            .append($('<i class="icon material-symbols">').text(c3nav._map_material_icon(location.effective_icon || 'place')))
             .append($('<span>').text(location.title))
             .append($('<small>').text(location.subtitle)).attr('data-id', location.id);
         html.attr('data-location', JSON.stringify(location));
@@ -1024,7 +1024,7 @@ c3nav = {
         c3nav._locationinput_reset_autocomplete();
         elem.toggleClass('selected', !!location).toggleClass('empty', !location)
             .data('location', location).data('lastlocation', location).removeData('suggestion');
-        elem.find('.icon').text(location ? c3nav._map_material_icon(location.icon || 'place') : '');
+        elem.find('.icon').text(location ? c3nav._map_material_icon(location.effective_icon || 'place') : '');
         elem.find('input').val(location ? location.title : '').removeData('origval');
         elem.find('small').text(location ? location.subtitle : '');
     },