A longer lifespan
As mentioned, while the sign was made with durability in mind, it was also originally intended only for temporary display. Since then, its popularity has led to it being seen as more of a permanent fixture.

“During the Pan Am Games, the lighting was controlled from the same system as the stage lighting for the square’s Panamania concerts,” says Goldberg. “Now it’s on a timer that cycles through preset colour changes 24-7. It could also be joined with the building lighting system for City Hall. I suspect the city wants to maintain it because it’s become bigger than anyone expected. It was part of the joy of the games. I think a lot of people were prepared to see the games fail, so their success was all the more amazing. Panamania, especially, was well-planned and it gave the city a lot of pride to see the square become so central to the games.”

Unit 11 has an ongoing maintenance contract with the city. Loughlin explains his team has had to clean and spruce up the letters, as people climb all over them, but he doesn’t worry too much about maintaining durability for the letters’ estimated lifespan of three to five years—or beyond.

“There was a big windstorm that didn’t blow them over,” he notes. “People can sit in the Os, as they’re specially reinforced. Winter could be interesting, but we’ll take out the wood in the letter bases and replace it with plastic. I’m confident the sign will last.”

With files from Toronto, Unit 11 and Tad Lighting. For more information, visit www.toronto.ca, www.unit11.com and www.tadlighting.ca.