Going for the Gold

It’s well known that the agendas of architects and signmakers often diverge. Signshops and environmental-graphic designers frequently lament that architects view their work as, at best, a necessary evil, or even an obstruction of their work. Therefore, it’s refreshing when an architect embraces signage as an asset that complements their vision. It’s even better when a signmaker is called upon to help the firm trumpet its capabilities.

Signitecture, a Cincinnati-based sign and environmental-graphic design firm, achieved this double bonus by developing a program for SHP Leading Design, a Norwood, OH-based architectural firm. SHP approached Justin Molloy, Signitecture’s principal, earlier this year about developing an environmental-graphics program for its office with the intent of achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standard (LEED is an independent, third-party certification program established by the U.S. Green Building Council that promotes environmentally friendly building practices).

Although signage per se carries little significance with LEED certification, interpretive graphics that promote a structure’s green amenities may earn points for the proposed project. To help SHP earn LEED Gold certification, Signitecture developed a series of ID plaques that describe waste and energy-use reduction measures, materials used and other amenities. The system comprises plywood board back and 3-D, acrylic discs, which Worldwide Graphics & Sign Co. (Cincinnati) machined with an AXYZ Automation CNC router, that list the applicable LEED category and specs for the process or material described.  Worldwide screenprinted the graphics and protected them with a semi-gloss clearcoat.

Molloy said this was the second environmental-graphic project that Signitecture had developed for a LEED-compliant facility. The first entailed work for Cincinnati’s Dan Beard Council Boy Scout headquarters (see “These Signs Do a Good Turn” on the Design and Gallery channel).