The space also features various other custom signs, as well as art focused on parametric design.
The space also features various other custom signs, as well as art focused on parametric design. They are all aimed at conveying to customers that Hi Signs is willing to push the boundaries of what is possible with architectural signage. They also highlight their attention to detail, as the black, brass, and gold accent pieces all match with the architecture of the door handles and other elements inside the space.
A great deal of the manufacturing and the work within the space—including the installation of the signage and office lights—was done in-house by the Hi Signs team. They also designed and fabricated the graphics and pieces on the walls. The boardroom sign, as well as the Hi Signs logo at the front of the office, features faux LED neon, which is wired into the lighting system. The electrical work also brought power to spots which previously did not have any, including the illuminated signs above the washrooms.
For assistance with decorating, the team recruited Brennan’s wife, Ashley. Her background in interior design helped bring the finished space closer to their vision.
However, like most renovations in the age of COVID, this project was not without its challenges. One of the key roadblocks was lead time on products due to specific shortages. For example, the flooring—an important aspect of the renovation—took 10 weeks to arrive and ended up being one of the last elements added into the space. Another challenge was juggling the team’s workflow, as well as their projects in the back, and delegating a lot of their own resources for the renovation. On average, Brennan estimates Hi Signs utilized at least five to 10 of their own resources at any given time, for tasks such as painting.
Despite these hiccups, the renovation was completed within six months, in February 2023.
Looking towards the future
With the front office completed and its employees settled into the new space, Hi Signs has been able to put more energy into promoting itself as an architectural signage provider. According to Brennan, there have already been some notable benefits coming out of the rebrand, including higher-calibre job candidates and higher-end sign projects.
“The big thing was the crossover from the design of the space into architectural signage and wayfinding,” he says. “The first couple of tours we brought people in for, we were typically experiencing multiple bid situations, where the client would interview us for a fairly large project—maybe half a million dollars or a million dollars. They would plan on interviewing multiple companies, but instead, they came in, and through the conversation, seeing the space, and sitting down and being collaborative with us, they would make the decision on the spot. We probably landed five major projects in the first 45 days of having people come through, which I would be confident to say we would not have gotten before. The space is helping us attract a different level of client, and I think that was the whole intended purpose.”
