New Window Graphics Mark 100th Anniversary of Akron Law School

A HUNDRED YEARS in existence — an accomplishment worth celebrating, whether for a person, a business or in this case, The University of Akron School of Law (Akron, OH). But like candles or a cake, the time to celebrate doesn’t last forever, so the school decided to mark the occasion with year-long window graphics for its building facing both sides of a busy corner.
With designs provided by the University’s Communications and Marketing Dept., the law school called 15-year vendor JW Color (North Canton, OH) to print and install the graphics. “We have handled wall and window-graphic projects in almost every building on campus at some time,” said Craig Johnson, president of JW Color.

At the start of the project Craig did a site survey and supplied the department with measurements of each area, including mullion placement. “Our prepress department double-checked all artwork to the survey and set up cut files,” Craig said. However, the choice of substrates was less straightforward.

JW Color recommended Briteline 80/20 Window Perf film for the side of the building where the film needed to be completely see-through from the inside. For the other side, where the graphics would be installed on the first and second levels’ rotunda and conference room windows — and the view from inside presented less of a concern — they chose GlassApeel from Infinity Media Co. “The product still allows light in and has a frosted, stained-glass-type of look from the inside looking out,” Craig said.

And there was another reason: Had JW used the window perf instead of GlassApeel it would have involved an outside install, and due to the location and height they would have had to rent a boom lift, adding to the cost of the project.

“The GlassApeel product we used was the clear version, so we reverse-printed the image and flooded the back with white ink,” Craig said. “The material is almost optically clear and installs cleanly with water.” All graphics were printed on JW Color’s swissQprint Impala 3 UV printer. Craig and a team of two others completed the installation in a day. Next September, the graphics should remove easily.

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“The window graphics have been a wonderful addition to our year-long centennial campaign,” said Akron Law Dean Christopher J. (C.J.) Peters. “The windows are attention-getting and really take advantage of our corner location that hundreds of vehicles pass by each day.”