A Solar Solution for Manzo Freeman

In early spring of 2020, Manzo Freeman Development (MFD) — a privately-owned commercial real estate firm — reached out to Metro Sign and Awning with an idea for a new signage project. 

Metro had previously designed and installed a curved canopy for The Landing at Hudson Mills. Pleased with that design, creativity, and quality fabrication of the canopy at the Hudson Mills’ entrance, MFD had a new project in mind: a free-standing sign at the parking lot entrance.

A Cost-Effective Solar Solution

MFD wanted its new sign to reflect the company’s updated branding. The project, however, faced a pretty significant challenge: powering the LED lights in the new parking lot sign. This sign stood quite a distance from the Hudson Mills building — a huge warehouse converted into office space.

The MFD team sought an estimate to run electricity out to the sign’s proposed location. The cost, however, was prohibitive. Metro proposed value engineering an alternative to the original electric-powered sign. The team suggested adapting the design to use a solar light fixture to power the free-standing sign. 

Receiving the go-ahead from MFD’s team, the building owners, property manager, and facilities manager, the Metro team went to work. They converted the initial signage plans to a solar option on the fly and in doing so, changing many of the specifications. They needed to find a solar light that would accommodate the New England weather and stay illuminated during the winter months when dusk to dawn lasts up to 16 hours.

The final sign design includes 8” round steel posts that support a round cabinet/ rotary sign with LED lighting powered by an FL10 solar sign light system. Metro mounted the solar panel and battery on one of the steel posts. 

A Sign of Approval

MFD’s people loved the sign. In fact, they liked the final product so much that they asked Metro to add the same lettering on the back of the sign. Now employees and visitors in the parking lot will also be able to read the signage.

“The sign looks terrific! The team is blown away and very happy with how it came out. Thank you so much to you and your team!” Alexandra Freeman, Managing Partner & Director of Leasing