Lighting up the runway
The entire project involved many different types of signage, including custom-fabricated LED storefront signs, blade and lightbox signs, faux neon signs, dimensional letters, wall and window graphics, framed pictures, and other fixture signs. In total, the team produced more than 50 distinct types of signs across all seven stores.
The client’s in-house team developed the designs for the package, which were then shared with Century Signs for production. The fabrication process encompassed various categories of signs, each with their own unique materials and production methods.
Storefront signs
The storefront signs had considerable diversity in size and composition, based on the desired imagery of each brand. Ranging between 3 and 6 m (10 and 20 ft) wide, they all featured some form of illumination.
Face-lit and back-lit channel letters were constructed for Jimmy Johns, Distillery District Market, Bongo Java, and Nashville Supply Co. Made from 76.2-mm (3-in.) coils and acrylic faces, their returns were painted to match each brand’s colour scheme.
The signage for TX/MX comprised open-face, marquee-style channel letters, which were 127-mm (5-in.) deep. They were filled with LED bulbs and installed without any visible wiring.
For Fat Bottom Brewing, the team created a sign with 101.6- and 127-mm (4- and 5-in.) thick, open-face channel letters. Inside, they installed orange and white faux neon wire to match the brand’s colouring.
Finally, the edge-lit acrylic sign for Gulch Goods included letters cut from 25.4-mm (1-in.) thick acrylic, with an opaque, brushed brass face and white, semi-translucent sides, pushed through an internally lit lightbox.
Blade signs
All blade signs measured 609.6 x 457.2 mm (24 x 18 in.) and were constructed from 101.6-mm deep, internally illuminated, double-sided lightboxes. The aluminum perimeters were powder coated in black, and the signs featured 12.7-mm (0.5-in.), push-through, translucent acrylic lettering, with vinyl graphic details applied to their faces.
Lightbox signs
Certain establishments also required hanging signs to indicate areas for ordering or pickup. These signs measured 914.4 x 177.8 mm (36 x 7 in.) and were made from 76.2-mm deep, internally illuminated lightboxes, with black die-cut matte vinyl letters applied to their faces. Their opaque returns were painted satin black, and the signs were installed from the ceiling.
Faux neon signs
Both Distillery District Market and TX/MX had interior faux neon signs, which utilized single-stroke tubes to form shapes or logos, with vinyl behind them for a bold appearance. Fat Bottom Brewing’s storefront sign was also constructed using this method.
Dimensional letters
To complement their illuminated storefront signs, some locations also featured interior dimensional lettering. These letters, typically conveying slogans or phrases, were crafted from acrylic of various thicknesses, and painted to match each brand’s colours. Most 3D letters were flush-mounted to the walls, with the exception of Distillery District Market, which was pin-mounted with 12.7-mm standoffs.
Custom-printed graphics
Each store featured massive wall murals printed on laminated, self-adhesive vinyl. A few of them also had custom wall decals. For example, a large skeleton was painted on the wall at TX/MX using a contour-cut stencil. In total, Century Signs printed more than 325.1 m2 (3,500 sf) of wall graphics, including decals for windows, glass railings, coolers, utility dispensers, and point-of-sale (POS) equipment.
Navigating turbulence
While the preliminary and production stages proceeded smoothly, challenges arose during the installation phase. Delays from other trades during construction resulted in Century Signs having to adjust their installation dates. However, the team anticipated these possibilities, and had strategic contingency plans in place. Their close communication with the airport’s general contractor and other partners on the project allowed them to stay up to date with the terminal’s progress. Taking multiple trips also allowed the team to maintain flexibility in completing the signs based on the real-time conditions of the site. Any areas which were not yet ready for installation were addressed in subsequent visits, allowing Century Signs to seamlessly adapt to the evolving circumstances.
A smooth landing
With decades of combined experience, the shop’s in-house team efficiently managed the entire installation process. During the initial two-week trip to Nashville, four crew members utilized their skills in applying vinyl, pin-mounting 3D letters, and installing illuminated storefront signs.
While the majority of the signage was at ground level, some of the wall murals were taller than 3 m, which required the use of a scissor lift. The second and third trips, each dedicated to a single store, were executed by a team of two installers in a couple of days.
Throughout the project, the team collaborated closely with the local general contractor and various tradespeople, including electricians. This approach ensured a seamless installation process, with particular attention to the proper power requirements for the illuminated signs.
The project kicked off in May 2023 and concluded that December.
