LFP - Large-Format-Printing

Energizing A College Athletics Facility- FASTSIGNS

Friday 22. November 2013 - For many years, FASTSIGNS of Naperville has cultivated a working relationship with North Central College, a private liberal arts college located in the Chicago suburb of Naperville. FASTSIGNS has created everything for the college from wayfinding campus signage, campus maps, interior ADA signage and light pole banners to football stadium signage and even bronze plaques.

The Opportunity
For many years, FASTSIGNS of Naperville has cultivated a working relationship with North Central College, a private liberal arts college located in the Chicago suburb of Naperville. FASTSIGNS has created everything for the college from wayfinding campus signage, campus maps, interior ADA signage and light pole banners to football stadium signage and even bronze plaques.
North Central College was preparing to host the NCAA Div. III indoor track and field national championships in their state-of-the-art residence hall/recreation center and called on FASTSIGNS for help with graphics.
The Challenge
North Central College wanted to increase brand awareness and build name recognition in the competition arena and brand the athletic locker rooms.
The Solution
FASTSIGNS suggested an innovative way to brand the interior walls of the competition arena. While attending the annual FASTSIGNS convention, Shane Beard, owner of the Naperville FASTSIGNS, learned about the applications of 3M graphic film and thought it would be a good solution for the college.
“I learned about the concrete film product, emailed my contact at North Central College right then and wanted them to know that I was thinking of how we could use the product,” Beard said.
FASTSIGNS added the 3M graphic film to the large interior wall located next to the track. The 3M film can adhere to textured surfaces such as concrete block, brick, tile, cement or stucco and is removable and less expensive than painting. It can be used to create realistic looking photos on textured surfaces and is a great alternative to banners or rigid boards.
The FASTSIGNS team created attention-getting wall graphics that match the college’s PMS colors, measure 60 feet wide and 4 feet high, and feature the North Central College logo and the name of the track facility. FASTSIGNS also emblazoned two locker rooms with the North Central College logo.
After experimenting with the product and communicating with reps from 3M, FASTSIGNS created and installed the complicated wall graphics.
“You can’t rush the installation,” explained Beard. “This is my first large job with the concrete film and it took almost 12 hours to install. The graphics adhered phenomenally.
The Result
Jim Godo, Asst. Vice President of Marketing and Communications at North Central College said, “The impact is powerful; people are greeted with our school colors and the name of the institution.”
The wall graphics attract the interest of people walking by and enhance the competition arena by providing a splash of color.
“The graphics accomplished our goals,” Godo explained. “But, it’s more than putting letters on the wall…there’s the pride factor and we’re all proud to be a part of a great institution.”