Associated Bank came to Spectrum Signs to design, fabricate and install their logo in LED channel letters up on the 13th floor of the Minnesota Center in Bloomington, MN. While we have plenty of experience working from swing stages and installing LED letters on glass curtain walls, every one of these situations is very different. That's why the planning and surveying stages of our process are so important. Reviewing architectural plans, going to site to verify field conditions and having conversations with engineers were absolutely necessary to ensure a successful outcome.
Surveys
Collecting all the relevant information to share with the design and project management team is probably the most important step of all. It's what all design, fabrication and installation decisions are based off. Our experienced team of installers went to site to collect dimensions, photos and any potential obstacles and shared with the rest of our team to review. They also met with a glass contractor to verify that the curtain wall was structurally sufficient to hold a 55'-0" long sign.
Design
After the needed information was collected, it was passed to the design and project management team. The sign was sized to the maximum square footage allowed by the city code and all dimensions and attachment details were put together in a package for the customer to review. Because the sign was being installed on a glass curtain wall, specially engineered steel clips had to be attached to the window mullions. We designed the sign in 6 sections using aluminum square tubing as a wireway and to act as a framework for the channel letters. The square tube would then be fastened to the steel clips attached to the building.
City Permits
After the customer signed off on the design we proceeded to collect all the necessary permits. The permit process included the city verifying square footage, how the sign was being installed to the building and where on the building it was being placed. We also worked with an engineer to sign off on how the sign was being attached to the building.
Assembly and Installation
After the fabrication of the sign was complete, assembly took place. Because the overall length of the sign was 55'-0", the frame was built in 6 sections. The LED channel letters were installed on their respective sections and test lit in our shop to ensure everything was working properly. While that was taking place we had a swing stage set-up on the building. The swing stage was used by both the glass contractor who installed our specially designed steel clips as-well-as our installation team to install the sign. The sign was brought to the top off the building in 6 sections, and attached to the steel clips from the swing stage.
Final Outcome
It took months of planning and coordination but this was an absolute success. The complex installation went off without a hitch and the Associated Bank sign sits loud and proud on the Minnesota Center.
We're an experienced team of consultants, designers, projects managers and installers. If you have a sign project you want handled professionally, completed on-time and within budget then reach out today!
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