Bleck Architects

Building Signage Design Considerations

Successful building signage design takes into consideration the sign appearance, location, and safety.

Do you have a favorite sign? Perhaps it is an iconic neon sign from a 50’s diner or a streamlined modern sign that is integrated perfectly with an office building. Regardless of style, successful building signs have three things in common:

  1. Attractive Appearance
  2. Appropriate Location
  3. Safety

Let’s look at the detailed design considerations for specifying building signage.

1. Appearance

  • Interior and exterior signage should be attractive and memorable.
  • Signage should be consistent with the business’ current branding and take into consideration corporate standards and the use of the brand’s signature colors and logo. Often overlooked, exterior signage design needs to be consistent with the local community brand. Many local communities have invested a great deal into crafting the look and feel for their community.
  • Your signage designs must also comply with zoning requirements including the size, number, style, and lighting of the signage.
  • Day and Night visibility of the signage should be taken into consideration.
  • Easy maintenance of the signage is very important.
  • The signage system should be flexible and allow for future content changes, including adding new tenants.

SHOWCASE YOUR BRAND: We are currently working on a rebranding project at Marquardt of Barrington, a Buick-GMC dealership in the Chicago-land area. The signage incorporates local Barrington brand attributes as well as the Buick-GMC corporate branding by featuring a 27’ high pylon sign with black and silver panels displaying a bold and luxurious appearance.

2. Location

  • Designed for a specific location
  • Takes into account traffic speed – fast traffic locations dictate higher, larger, bolder signs to enable quick reading
  • Visible from street or walks – taking into account the sight lines
  • Improves brand awareness
  • Enables wayfinding
  • In keeping with zoning requirements, including setbacks

GET NOTICED: At the new Wintrust State Bank of the Lakes in Round Lake Beach, we verified that the new sign location would be visible by taking into consideration the size, position, and bulk of an existing adjacent medical clinic building. The sign size and height are designed for good visibility in the fast auto traffic environment on Rollins Road.

3. Safety

  • Durable
  • Appropriate position on building or site
  • Not a traffic hazard – does not block sight lines
  • Vandal resistant
  • Securely attached to building or ground
  • Maintained and monitored for continued safety

KEEP IT SAFE: The current remodeling of an existing Grayslake building on Highway 120 for Waukegan Tire incorporates building and ground based signage. The look of the quality, lightweight metal panels is a great fit for the automotive industry as well as offering sign durability and vandal resistance.

Careful consideration of sign appearance, appropriate location, and safety considerations contribute to building signage design success.