Back by popular demand,
The best illuminated monument signs from ST's competition.
By Steve Aust
FIRST PLACE
Fabricator
Snyder Signs Inc.
Johnson City, TN
(423) 282-6221
www.snydersigns.com
Designers
Ted Tubbs
Rod Snyder
Snyder Signs
Client
Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge Airport Authority
Although the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge airport is in a populous area near Sevierville, TN, few people know it exists, according to Snyder’s operations manager, Randy Holland. Snyder Signs used a scale model of a Lear jet to build the 11-ft.-long replica using CNC-routed HDU, which it subsequently coated in fiberglass. The design team used Autodesk’s 3DS Max dimensional software. The aluminum letters are backlit with LEDs, and locally quarried stone was used to fabricate the base.
SECOND PLACE
Fabricator
National Signs
Houston
(713) 863-0600
www.nationalsigns.com
Designer
OUN
National Signs
Client
St. Bernadette Catholic Church
Church signs represent a large portion of National Signs’ business, and this simple, but powerful, monument underscores why. The 15-ft.-tall, aluminum structure incorporates a full-color Watchfire message center and features CNC-routed copy and a cross that’s backed with acrylic and illuminated with high-output GE fluorescent lamps.
THIRD PLACE
Fabricator
Creative Sign Designs
Tampa
(813) 818-7180
www.creativesigndesigns.com
Designer
Creative Sign Designs
Client
Balfour Beatty
The Toho Water Authority, which owns 20 water plants and 10 wastewater-treatment plants, provides water services to most of Osceola County, FL. The Authority’s move to a new, 54,000-sq.-ft. facility required a comprehensive sign package. For the exterior monument, the shop routed aluminum sheet and acrylic with its MultiCam and AXYZ Camtech CNC routers. The design team developed the package using CorelDraw X5, SA Intl.’s FlexiSign 8.5, and AutoCAD 2007. Fabricators decorated the sign using Matthews acrylic-polyurethane paint, and illuminated the face using MAXX LED’s 6500k white LED mini-modules.
HONORABLE MENTION
Fabricator
Superior Electrical Advertising
Long Beach, CA
(562) 495-3808
www.superiorsigns.com
Designer
Peter Lee
Superior Electrical Advertising
Client
Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern
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I can see why these signs won the awards for best electric monument signs. I think that special recognition should be given to the signs that are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly as well. Signs using LED bulbs should get bonus points.