2009 International Sign Contest: Commercial Monument Signs

FIRST PLACE

Dan began developing a new image for his shop by brainstorming with numerous hand sketches. After having chosen his concept, he developed a piece-by-piece, 3-D rendering using SA Intl.’s EnRoute® Pro software. The fabricators routed the sign’s components with their MultiCam 3000 CNC router using Coastal Enterprises’ 30-lb. PrecisionBoard HDU, and assembled them over a welded-steel frame. They used Magic Sculpt epoxy to craft the plants, rivets, sails and all other ship details and fashioned the sliver of moon over a welded armature. To finish the job, Sawatzky’s team coated the sign with General Paints’ acrylic paint and gilded the letters with 23k goldleaf. The signs’ base comprises fiberglass-reinforced concrete over a welded-steel frame.

SECOND PLACE

Hurst designed this network-marketing company’s sign using Corel Corp.’s CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4. Pendu built the sign using ¼-in.-thick steel and its CNC plasma cutter, and Steel Art built the polished, mirror-finish, stainless-steel letters. Hubler Landscaping built the sign’s block base, and Hurst, and his son, Todd, handled installation.

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THIRD PLACE

4image3Naterra Land Development, which developed a rustic, lakeside property, sought a unique, environmentally compliant gateway icon that reflects the surroundings for the site’s three-mile entrance road. Signart fabricated the 1/4-in.-thick, steel letters with a CNC router and painted them with Matthews acrylic-polyurethane paint before applying the Naterra logo, which was printed with a Summa thermal-transfer printer. Ryan’s Rustic Railings located and hauled the 30-in.-diameter, 22-ft.-long log and treated it with a natural sealant before hoisting it into place.

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