Creating Vancouver’s largest building wrap

by carly_mchugh | 10 February 2023 10:20 am

By Carly McHugh

Today, many shops in the industry embrace the philosophy of “go big or go home.” For Vancouver-based company Multigraphics Ltd., their recent building wrap project is no exception.

In July 2021, the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) approached Multigraphics to help create a super-sized wrap for their upcoming Commerce Centre Building. The goal was to beautify the construction space, as well as communicate YVR’s commitment to becoming the first carbon net-zero airport in the world. The new building wrap would also be the largest in the city’s history.

In their proposal, Multigraphics included past examples of building wraps they had completed, a mockup with rendered graphics to help visualize the concept, and engineering specifications for the scaffolding to assure longevity. Once YVR decided to move forward, their marketing team produced the final wrap design.

The project involved wrapping all four sides of the under-construction building, which covered an area of approximately 6038.6 m² (65,000 sf). The longer sides were 109.7 m (360 ft) wide x 15.2 m (50 ft) high, while the shorter sides were 76.2 m (250 ft) wide x 15.2 m high. The shop also needed to create custom-fabricated frames for the tree toppers which protruded above the main structure. Due to the size of the project, along with the amount of wind present in the area, the team chose to construct the wrap using mesh banners.

The fabrication process began in November 2021. At the outset, Multigraphics printed a few sample banners, as well as created a scaled-down prototype of the building. They used the samples to test colour accuracy and consistency, and the prototype to ensure the desired finishing would fit the scaffolding. The graphics were printed on the mesh banner media using an HP Latex 1500 printer.

Each panel was approximately 3 m (10 ft) wide and 15.2 m high. In total, the project used about 70 rolls of media, 4572 m (15,000 ft) of rope, and 12,000 grommets. The process involved more than 130 hours of printing, and more than 315 hours of finishing. As everything was produced in-house, the shop designated specific teams to focus on the project for weeks at a time.

The building was wrapped in four phases, one per side, over a period of six months. Multigraphics contracted two crews to assist with the process—one to assemble the scaffolding, and another to install the banners.

For the installation, the company rented a 24.3-m (80-ft) articulating boom lift. Both crews supplied additional equipment for their respective jobs, such as support vehicles, ladders, and harnesses. Overall, the wrap used about 122 panels and eight tree toppers. It was completed in June 2022.

As a result of their comprehensive planning, Multigraphics did not face any significant challenges over the course of the project. They accounted for the printing process and the amount of material they would require, which their purchasing team ordered ahead of time. The installation was also thoroughly discussed in detail with the contractors, to ensure the structure could withstand a variety of weather elements. Lastly, all the logistics involved in getting the materials from the shop to the airport were meticulously laid out. This included additional safety restrictions and protocols, as the installation was done during the peak of the third wave of COVID-19.

Now that it was complete, a project of this size warranted a grand showcase. Multigraphics collaborated with a videography team to capture footage of the wrap using a drone. This required a special permit due to the nature of the project site, along with applicable security concerns. It was also the first time a legal drone flight took place at the airport.

The drone footage of the finished product is currently available on the shop’s website and YouTube channel.

Source URL: https://www.signmedia.ca/creating-vancouvers-largest-building-wrap/

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