Live concerts and events are back in the Twin Cities, and we couldn't be more excited! This includes The Fillmore, the Minneapolis venue which initially opened it's doors in February of 2020. Of course, the pandemic hit a month later resulting in a year-and-a-half hiatus. But now with restrictions being lifted the concert calendar is filling-up quick!
The Fillmore originated in San Francisco in 1952, and was known for it's highly creative and unique atmosphere. When everyone from James Brown to The Grateful Dead are performing on your stages, you know something special is happening. There are currently 9 locations nationally including the aforementioned Minneapolis venue. 
This project was a highlight for us because it featured a few different unique sign builds. First, the main identification signs which are LED face illuminated channel letters. These signs are different because the customer wanted the letters to look like a neon, which was very popular in the 70's and 80's. To get the look of neon, we used LED flex tubing to mimic the shape and contours that you would see with neon. We also didn't use acrylic faces on any of the letters so the LED tubing would be visible. The logo is externally illuminated, meaning it has light pointed at it rather than the light shining from an internal source. The graphics are digitally printed with a UV overlaminate for longevity.
Next, the LED digital display that wrapped the corner of the building. This was custom built with mitered corners so the display was able to be seamless at the intersection. This allows the display to look like one complete unit, instead of two separate cabinets. Coordination with the general contractor and architect was a must because the building was still under construction while the signs were being fabricated . We needed to make sure the sizing of the displays and the opening left in the building was perfect to allow for a smooth transition from the bottom of the sign to the wood paneling.
Lastly, the interior LED letters. These are LED face illuminated channel letters attached to a fabricated steel grid structure. The steel grid was manufactured in five separate sections and stacked together on-site. One of the challenges of this type of sign was concealing all of the electrical wiring within the grid. The grid doesn't provide much coverage for the wiring, so we had to be strategic with how and where the wiring was placed. There is also a unique back-lighting element with programmed effects that was installed by another partner. It adds dimension, but ties the overall look together nicely.
No sign types from this job were standard, or off-the-shelf. Everything was custom built and required a substantial amount of coordination with the architect, contractors, engineers and the end user to make sure all the pieces fit in place as they should. We are extremely proud of how this project turned out and are looking forward enjoying some live music in the near future!
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