New Directions: Redefining a Downtown

The Baldus Co. (Fort Wayne, IN), a 57-year-old, third-generation sign company that specializes in architectural sign design and fabrication, fashioned a 36-sign program to help motorists navigate its hometown. City officials specified the system to help trumpet investment in central-city improvements, such as a renovated civic center and enhanced walkways and landscaping. George Baldus, who co-owns the company with his brother, Doug, said location and composition posed two primary challenges.

“The system’s primary function is to direct visitors to Fort Wayne’s commercial and entertainment centers,” he said. “So, it was essential to work cooperatively with the Indiana Dept. of Transit [INDOT] and [architects] the Allen Co. on a comprehensive survey to determine effective sites. We also developed logos and color schemes for the five distinct districts – we referenced fairly universal symbols, such as a Greek column for the cultural district and a building icon for the government district.”

Once Baldus had settled on where and how to develop the system, secure installations became the focus. Because inground, vehicular signage is at the mercy of traffic accidents and vandals, Baldus installed “breakaway bolts” that separate the sign face and supporting pole, in the event of collision, to protect the foundation from damage. To prevent the signage from obstructing drivers’ views and minimize crash impact, city codes mandate vehicular sign markers remain 7 ft. above roads.

To fortify the markers, Baldus subcontracted installation of the 4- in.-diameter signpoles into 5-ft.-deep concrete to meet the city engineer’s structural and wind-load requirements. Baldus decorated the signs with Avery Graphics (Painesville, OH) A9 reflective, cast vinyl cut using a Gerber Scientific Products (South Windsor, CT) enVision 375 plotter. For the sign’s body, Baldus used DuPont Performance Coatings paint system.

The company installed this first wayfinding system in August 2006. Baldus is currently developing a follow-up program that will extend to surrounding areas to direct motorists from surrounding highways into downtown.

Advertisement