SIGNARAMA Downtown Uses Original Building Materials for New Signs in Whiskey Row Lofts

Feb. 9, 2012 - PRLog -- Louisville, KY - SIGNARAMA Downtown recently completed a project for one of the most prominent new developments in Louisville, the Whiskey Row Lofts.

The developers of Whiskey Row Lofts called SIGNARAMA owner, Maggie Harlow, in November 2010, and asked her to walk through the historic property slated for redevelopment located on the riverfront in downtown Louisville.  

After touring the building with the owners and co-developers, siblings Valle and Stephen Jones, and CITY Properties Group, Maggie says the vision for the building’s signage was immediately evident to her. Valle wanted something new and modern, but spare, allowing the history and age of the materials to show through. Maggie said she had a clear idea of how to use signage to enhance the owners’ vision for the building.

The historic building was originally built for L&N Railroad on the site of the original Galt House Hotel which had previously been destroyed by fire. In a nod to the neighborhood and early distilleries in the area, the building that had been in the Jones family for years was added to the former Burwinkle-Hendershot building next door and renamed Whiskey Row Lofts. From the outset, Stephen, Valle and co-developer Bill Weyland had a clear vision for redeveloping the site into mixed use office, retail and residential space.

High on their (and the city’s) priority list was restoration and preservation, and SIGNARAMA faced several challenges as a result:
•   Repurpose actual building materials into directional and way-finding signage
•   Meet the passionate vision that Valle and Stephen had for their family property
•   Create effective, affordable and beautifully innovative signage throughout
•   Use as many “green” solutions as possible, doing as little damage to the building and the environment as possible.

Maggie described the project as being one of her favorite and most creative sign projects in her eight years in business.

Some of the completed signs include translucent panels affixed to or built into old doors from the building, routed and direct printed pieces of reclaimed wood, illuminated channel letters for the side of the building and dimensional letters on the front of the building. To avoid damaging the cast iron façade of the building by drilling holes, SIGNARAMA used heavy magnets to attach the letters. UV ink, which cures in response to UV light, was used on some products. This type of ink is not damaging to the environment and generates no waste.

The owners are pleased with the results. Valle Jones commented that SIGNARAMA brought “flexibility, creativity, patience, a collaborative spirit and a real commitment to this building.” She added, “I always felt Maggie had a very personal commitment and interest in making this building functional and cool.”

The results of the project can be seen by visiting Whiskey Row Lofts, which includes restaurants and event spaces open to the public.

SIGNARAMA Downtown is a full-service sign and graphics center owned by Maggie and Brian Harlow. Their products and services include the design, production and installation of all types of signs, banners, window and door decals, vehicle wraps and graphics, tradeshow displays and illuminated lettering and signs. To learn more about SIGNARAMA Downtown, call 502-585-4099 or visit www.signaramadowntown.com.

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Sign-A-Rama Downtown provides the Louisville/Kentuckiana region with all of their signage needs, including signs, banners, window and vehicle graphics, displays and more.