Also featured is an example of the architectural accents the team is often called upon to create – mainly due to the design flexibility of their cellular plastic (EPS expanded polystyrene foam)  medium. The result of this project was an everyday building entrance transformed by the elegance of barrel vaulting and decorative molding.

Click on the link below to read about these projects in the Signs By Benchmark newsletter.

Signs By Benchmark January 2012 Newsletter

The lightweight, 14′ wide x 13′ 6″ high x 29″ deep double-sided monument was created from cellular plastic then sealed with Signs By Benchmark’s signature hard coat for long-lasting durability that resists extreme weather conditions while eliminating rust and rot.

Featuring two-color acrylic stucco finish, copy coated directly into the sign face, and space for stud-mounted tenant panels, the stately monument has no problem standing out on the gently curving prairie. 

For ease of Installation, pick points were installed on the sign, allowing it to be easily craned into place over the poles. The operation was simple and quick: installation took only one hour.

Remarking on the project, Travis Cantwell of Elite Signs & Graphix said, “This was another great-looking sign in which we were able to take the customer’s logo and instead of getting caught up in fitting the shape of the sign to the logo, Signs By Benchmark took the architecture of the building and tied it into the sign to come up with a package that tied everything together – right down to the matching brick the building has. I am very pleased with the results we got with an outstanding product.”

This project reminds us that often, a customer requires not just a sign, but a sign package complete with interior and exterior signage. Budgetary considerations may not always allow installation of the complete package, but all signage can be designed, then created and installed over time to meet customer requirements.

Start offering your customers a complete signage package. Give the team at Signs By Benchmark a call at 800-658-3444 to discuss their needs. Provide existing designs or ask the Signs By Benchmark designers for help creating the perfect high quality lightweight, durable signage for your customers.  

Working with flexible cellular plastic allows Signs By Benchmark’s creative team to CNC-cut and hand-sculpt products that aren’t easily manufactured from traditional mediums. Every sign or sign component such as bases, pole covers and sign tops are completely encapsulated in Signs By Benchmark’s signature hard coat for long-lasting strength and durability.

While Signs By Benchmark specializes in the creation of custom exterior and interior signage, it also offers a line of standard model exterior signs that may be created as designed or customized to suit specific needs. 

To view photos of some Signs By Benchmark signs and sign accent components (bases, pole covers and tops), click here.

To read, download or print Signs By Benchmark brochures, click here.

Click here to view videos displaying how Signs By Benchmark products are created.

For this project, we created barrel vaulting and decorative molding for interior installation over an otherwise unremarkable building entrance. Our craftsmen worked from precise measurements to ensure an exact fit, then sealed this accent with our signature hardcoat for long-lasting durability. Once installed, the piece was artistically painted and lighted. The result is a distinctive, unique accent that attractively reflects the owner’s character and style. 

Think “more than just signage” when you’re working up your next project. View it in the “larger picture” mode by determining what you could offer in the way of a complete package consisting of external and internal elements. Offer signage when it’s called for, but then, knowing you can partner with us for the extras, don’t hesitate to offer much more.

Give our team at Signs By Benchmark a call at 800-658-3444 to tell us about your complete package needs. Then enjoy a profitable collaboration that will leave your customers with no needs unmet.

To view photos of additional Signs By Benchmark architectural accents, click here.

Measuring 14′ wide x 13′ 6″ high x 29″ deep, the two-sided sign will feature space in which advertising panels will be mounted, two-color acrylic stucco finish and copy coated directly into the sign face for a durable, seamless finish.

You can read more about this project and view installation photos in our upcoming January newsletter. If you aren’t receiving our monthly newsletter, visit our website at http://www.signsbybenchmark.com/signs/news/ where you can sign up by entering your email address in the upper right-hand gray sidebar.

 

By Jeff Wooten of Sign Builder Illustrated.

(Click here to read the full story with larger photos in the January 2012 digital edition of Sign Builder Illustrated magazine)

Monkeys have long played effective partners. Tarzan had Cheetah. Clint Eastwood had Clyde. Cornelius had Dr. Zira.

And the Bottoms Up Patio Bar in Sioux City, Iowa has their colorful monkey mascot, which they use prominently in their branding. Swinging carefree with a frosty mug in its hand, this playful primate promotes the good times awaiting all visitors. Marketing campaigns use this simian icon to stress to patrons that it’s a “jungle out there,” so they should look to “escape to the jungle” inside.

The Bottoms Up Patio Bar opened for business this past summer at the Rush Werks Entertainment Complex. This locale hosts five entertaining hot spots (ranging from restaurants to bowling alleys to miniature golf), so it’s a no-brainer that, with its outdoor patio, sand volleyball beaches, and tropical theme, the bar would make an ideal tenant here.

Before opening, the bar owners knew they were going to need some kind of lighthearted sign to play off the monkey mascot. But what kind of sign? A ground-level monument? An internally illuminated sign cabinet? A wide format wall covering?

The sign makers and designers involved in this project didn’t monkey around. They successfully came up with a unique, double-sided, fifteen-foot, eight-inch-high-by-ten-foot-wide pylon sign consisting of two custom-crafted 12-5/8-inch pole covers and a top. Adorning the columns are embossed monkeys, palm fronds, and beer steins hand-carved from cellular plastic (expanded polystyrene EPS foam).

Sure the sign may be whimsical, but according to all involved in its creation, the message it portrays is some very serious (monkey) business!

Monkey See: Design

Earlier this year, Bottoms Up Patio Bar owners drafted JD Gordon Advertising, also of Sioux City, to come up with design ideas for an identity sign. The owners only knew they needed something located at the front entrance that would fit the allotted vertical space [I]and[I\] attract customers.

Angie Kennedy, art director at JD Gordon, had to keep two things in mind: (1.) The establishment was an outdoor bar with an entrance coming straight off the parking lot, and (2.) the sign needed to have a “beachy,” tiki theme. “Creatively I wanted to make an impact whether you were coming or going, so I explored some more humorous approaches to the design,” she explains. “To differentiate this entrance from the others at Rush Werks, I created an archway for people to walk through. This featured tiki-like poles and the logo front and center.”

With the design in motion, the owners contacted Avery Brothers Sign Company, also of Sioux City, asking to make this sign a reality. Avery Brothers has a long history of quality design and craftsmanship (founded in 1935!) and had already built and installed five new exterior signs for the Rush Werks complex. After hearing the pitch, Steve Avery, co-owner of Avery Brothers (along with his brothers Milt and Noel) was ready to tackle this idea. “We get excited any time we have a chance to be involved in a unique project,” he says.

Since Avery Brothers would be constructing the steel framework for the sign and handling its installation, Steve turned to sign supplier Signs By Benchmark of Watertown, South Dakota for the remainder of the work. (Note: Avery has worked with the company several times before and has always been impressed with the results.) “At that time, it was really just an idea of some bamboo sticks holding up a sign with a monkey on it,” says Matt Frey, division manager at Signs By Benchmark.

With an eye toward practicality in the build process, Frey made a couple more design suggestions. For starters, he pointed out that there would be a need to hide the two poles supporting the main arched sign. His suggestion: Using totem poles for covers. “Because of their round shape, they would work well to slip over the two, ten-inch steel poles that had been agreed upon,” he says.

Frey then drew up a quick pencil sketch to show Avery. “Within days, we had three new conceptual designs that incorporated the totem pole design with monkeys carved into them instead of traditional totem-type faces,” says Frey. (Note: Signs By Benchmark likes to get the installer involved from the start. “We like to think of the installer as a customer too,” says Frey, “and getting their input on design is key to a successful project.”)

Avery sent these suggestions back to JD Gordon, and Kennedy did some further tweaking. For the front sides of the poles, she expanded the monkey character by putting him in different positions. She then incorporated vines to visually connect each monkey, as it repeats down the length of the poles.

For the archway sign panel, Kennedy focused on the Bottoms Up logo and the monkey’s face—with a few changes. “The actual Bottoms Up logo has the monkey’s body and tail coming from above, making it appear to be hanging with its bottom up in the air,” she says. “I removed the body and tail, to make the monkey’s face as large as possible for the space allotted.

“I then designed the back of the sign so that the monkey’s rear end would be sticking out through it, making it appear as if he had busted through it.”

The “hang out again soon” wording on the back of the poles was inspired by the monkey logo used. “It’s a clever way of saying ‘goodbye’ through the sign and inviting [visitors] to come back,” says Kennedy.

Monkey Do: Fabrication

Success! The owners approved, and JD Gordon sent the art files over to Avery Brothers—who then sent them over to Signs By Benchmark. The entire sign and its accompaniments were built out of cellular plastic (foam-core), because it is easy to cut, shape, and fabricate.

The main sign portion was built around a steel framework provided by Avery Brothers. The top portion of the sign was built in relief to provide the three-dimensional look around the framework that Avery had provided them.

The entire top was then hard-coated and painted to match customer specs. “Once the pole covers were slid over the steel poles, the top section was lifted into place and saddle-mounted over the steel poles,” explains Frey.

Signs By Benchmark painted the sign with acrylic enamel and then applied a UV protective topcoat to it. “I think we used every painting method that there is on this project—a cup gun, an air brush, a paint brush, a roller, etc.,” says Frey.

The entire fabrication process only took ten working days, but because of the complexity of the actual display, it was a bit out of the normal for Signs By Benchmark. “There were a lot of elements to the design that couldn’t be relayed with just drawings and renderings,” says Frey.

“The drafting and design team made a lot of decisions dealing with the different layers of relief and how the sign would be painted to achieve a dimensional aspect right out on the production floor after everything had been cut.”

For example, the surface of each pole was hand-sculpted to create a wood grain effect before the embossed features would be mounted. This presented a challenge to ensure a seamless transition between the hand-sculpted wood grain surface and the embossed features (monkeys, leaves, vines, etc). “Each embossed shape had to be blended to meet the contours of the wood grain surface on the poles,” explains Frey.

Monkey Wrench: Installation

The sign was dry-fit in the shop to ensure a smooth installation later. Signs By Benchmark then disassembled the entire sign into three sections—the two poles and the top panel.

The company then packaged these pieces in EPS foam and bubble wrap and shipped them out on one of their trucks for a ninety-plus-mile trip to the Avery Brothers facility. This packaging solution eliminated the need (and costs) of using crates.

Installation of the pylon signs by the three-man crew from Avery Brothers took only five hours. The sign was set up with the use of pre-drilled anchors in the ground.

“We used power augers and drills, a basket truck, and some other construction tools to set everything up,” says Avery. “It ended up being a very smooth process.”

Monkey’s Uncle: Reaction

Avery describes the reaction to this monkey pylon-and-panel sign as enthusiastic, to say the least. “Well-designed and well-crafted commercial signage speaks to people in the same way that any art can and should speak to them,” he says. “The sign for Bottoms Up was designed to make patrons happy!”

For Kennedy, “I love that the client was so open to such a unique approach to their signage and willing to take the creative risks that ultimately produced a final product that is fun and memorable.”

Although this was a very complex and creative-intensive project, Frey urges other sign makers to not shy away when such requests come in. The rewards (and the relationships with those involved) can prove invaluable. “Projects like this are interesting to watch as they work their way through the shop,” says Frey. “Once they hit the floor, there’s a lot of novelty to them and everyone is talking: What’s this for? Where is it going? That’s so cool!

“Midway through the project the talk changes: Whose bright idea was this? How are we going to do that? We have to paint all that by hand?”

By project’s end, Frey says all the fabricators ended up forgetting these challenges and managed to get this monkey off their backs. “Everyone was standing back, looking at the finished display with big smiles on their faces,” he says. “They had their camera phones out, taking pictures to show their families and friends the new project they just finished.

“There was a real sense of accomplishment with everyone involved!”

Click here to read this article on the Sign Builder Illustrated website

Click here to view larger & additional photos of this sign project

The Signs By Benchmark December 2011 newsletter features exterior projecting signs that are sure to call the hungry to two restaurants. Constructed of lightweight cellular plastic (foam core) around an internal metal framework, both signs feature acrylic stucco finish and Gemini letters. Click on the link below to view the December newsletter and read all about the two signs.

Also featured is a 3-dimensional architectural promo piece Signs By Benchmark created to help a customer celebrate and advertise the Christmas holiday season.

Signs By Benchmark December 2011 Newsletter

Widely embracing the whole idea of snowy weather, 3′ tall Permafrost Benny stands ready on a 3′ x 3′ replica cracker topped by a slightly smaller square of faux chocolate. Hand-sculpted cellular plastic facial features bring this snowman to cheerful “life” as his hand (created from metal rod and sculpting epoxy) grasps a replica shovel. Completing his outfit are a cellular foam hat and a knitted multi-color scarf.

Signs By Benchmark creates promo products like Permafrost Benny, allowing sign shops to provide their customers with a more complete package. Signage accompanied by promo pieces help customers present their unique images in an imaginative way.

Think “more than just signage” when you’re working up your next project. Give the team at Signs By Benchmark a call at 800-658-3444 to tell them what your customer needs to fully personify a new or established image. Then enjoy a successful collaboration that will help enhance your own business.

Tom Lubner of Primecast Advertising met with his customers to determine lettering fonts to match those used in each restaurant’s literature, including menus. He then designed the signs and arranged for the manufacture of appropriate Gemini letters that were shipped to Signs By Benchmark for installation. This allowed the Primecast team to immediately install both signs upon their arrival.

Measuring 76 1/2″ wide x 46″ high x 10 1/2″ deep, the Judi’s Place sign was created from cellular plastic surrounding an internal metal framework to support mounting to the building face. Featuring a three-color acrylic stucco finish and Gemini letters, the sign proclaims the warm appeal of “Home Cooking.” 

The sign created for the PJ Piper Pancake House features a two-color acrylic stucco finish. Also constructed from cellular plastic around an interior metal framework, this 72″ wide x 40″ high x 10″ deep projecting sign with Gemini letters has no problem calling the community to breakfast.

According to Lubner, installation of both signs was an easy job.

“It works out very well when the sign manufacturer meets the exact measurements we send for mounting holes,” said Lubner. “Signs By Benchmark meets those precise measurements every time.”

Working with flexible cellular plastic allows Signs By Benchmark’s creative team to CNC-cut and hand-sculpt products that aren’t easily manufactured from traditional mediums. Every sign or sign component such as bases, pole covers and sign tops are completely encapsulated in Signs By Benchmark’s signature hardcoat for long-lasting strength and durability.

While Signs By Benchmark specializes in the creation of custom exterior and interior signage, it also offers a line of standard model exterior signs that may be created as designed or customized to suit specific needs. 

Give the team at Signs By Benchmark a call at 800-658-3444 to discuss high quality lightweight, durable signage for your customers.  

To view photos of some Signs By Benchmark signs and sign accent components (bases, pole covers and tops), click here.

To read, download or print Signs By Benchmark brochures, click here.

Click here to view videos displaying how Signs By Benchmark products are created.

Although this is a custom sign, the design is based on our Signs By Benchmark Standard Model #2 featuring a classic keystone design. As with this project, all standard models may be customized to precisely meet the customer’s needs.

Having collaborated with Indigo Signworks on many projects in the past, including the Hector International Airport sign, we were excited by this new project that called for another sign of epic proportions.  Created from cellular plastic (expanded polystyrene), the sign core was first CNC-cut, then finished out with hand-sculpted elements. Once all parts were assembled, the sign was coated with our signature polyurea hardcoat to ensure a seamless, durable, long-lasting product.

Scheduled for installation in December 2011, the sign was picked up from Signs By Benchmark by Indigo Signworks during mid-December. Return to our “NEWS“ articles on our website (www.SignsByBenchmark.com) in late December to read about the completed sign and its installation.

Working with the project architect, the Signs By Benchmark team obtained precise brick and grout measurements. Color matches were made by holding matching paint chips up to the brick under good light conditions while photos were taken with a digital camera capable of producing high quality photos.  

The stately 12′ 1 1/2″ high x 9′ 2″ wide x 31 1/4″ deep custom monument features a two-color acrylic stucco finish, faux brick and wall-mount Gemini laser cut acrylic lettering. Adding distinction to the sign is a waterjet cut aluminum replica of the official police department patch created by a community citizen with close ties to the department. 

Due to the sign’s lightweight properties, installation was simple. The Signs By Benchmark team looked on, enjoying the opportunity of having created a sign that would remain in their hometown.

“It was nice working on a project so close to home where we can drive by and be continually reminded of our work,” said Matt Frey of Signs By Benchmark. “We take the same pride in every sign we create regardless of where it’s shipped, but it’s enjoyable creating one that we can drive by any day.”

Over the years, the Signs By Benchmark team has become extremely expert at matching existing elements when creating faux components such as brick. Give them a call today at 800-658-3444 to discuss your upcoming projects. Their experienced knowledge and the flexibility of their cellular plastic medium can help turn your signage ideas into reality.