ARCHIVE: Category Archive for: Digest

The Ultimate Guide to Navigating the Sign Permit Process (3 Simple Steps)

“We’re opening in two weeks, but we forgot we need a sign. Can you help us?”—A question we hear all too often. Most business owners focus on location, setup, and marketing, but the sign permit often becomes an afterthought—until it’s a problem. Your sign is more than just a marker; it’s your first impression, your brand’s visibility, and a key to attracting customers. But there’s a catch: signage must meet local regulations. Skipping the permitting process can lead to costly fines, delays, or even removal orders. In New England’s historic towns, the process gets even more complicated with strict zoning laws and design restrictions. This guide will ensure your signage is not just eye-catching but fully compliant—so you can open

Have you ever considered how something as simple as a sign can affect someone’s ability to experience the world? The truth is, most businesses don’t ask themselves these questions until it’s too late. Imagine a potential customer saying, “I don’t know what your business is about, I can’t see your logo!” For individuals with disabilities, these seemingly minor details can make it difficult—if not impossible—to make them customers. In fact, non-compliance with accessibility standards can cost your business hundreds of thousands in fines. For example, did you know that something as simple as mounting your interior signage below the recommended height could result in a $75,000 fine? In this blog, we’ll explore what ADA-compliant signage is, the four key steps

Interior signage is often the first interaction a customer has with your brand when they enter your space. Whether it’s a welcoming lobby sign or directional signage guiding them through your office, interior signs play a crucial role in shaping a visitor’s perception. While it may seem like a small detail, the design, quality, and placement of signage can have a significant impact on how your brand is viewed. First Impressions Matter As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Interior signage is one of the first visual cues a customer will notice when they enter your establishment. A well-designed sign can communicate professionalism, trustworthiness, and attention to detail. On the flip

Picture this: you walk into a sprawling hospital, a labyrinth-like corporate campus, or an immense convention center. You’re on a mission, but the lack of clear directions leaves you feeling lost and overwhelmed. Time slips away, and frustration mounts as you struggle to find your destination. Now, imagine the alternative—a space where every turn is intuitive, every path guided by purposeful signage. You feel confident, in control, and free to focus on the reason you’re there. This isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the foundation of a well-designed, large facility. Effective wayfinding transforms confusion into clarity, and its impact reaches far beyond navigation. A Better Visitor Experience Starts with Clear Guidance The first impression a visitor forms of your facility

Continue reading to learn why design-build projects might be the best method to approach your next signage project.

Stormwater Garden Signage and the Newest Boston Public Library

When the Boston Public Library wanted dramatic new exterior environmental graphics – including interpretive panels and engraved pavers – at its newest branch, in East Boston, they turned to the noted architectural firm, William Rawn Associates. Rawn, in turn, asked for consultative help from Arrowstreet. And when the time came to fabricate the designs, Rawn and Arrowstreet came to us. The East Boston Library is the newest branch library in the Boston Public Library system. Located in the middle of Bremen Street Park, the building features three entirely glass walls and soaring roof that allows in filtered light, helping to connect the new Library’s indoor resources with the Park’s natural outdoor elements. A new series of interpretive panels are located

In a typical building, the glass entry doors and any adjacent windows create more opportunity for unwanted energy loss (in winter) and gain (in summer) than any other structural element. During the summer, for example, a single square foot of unshaded glass can allow more energy into a building than an 8′ x 10′ insulated wall. That’s a big reason why, as we’ve noted here, designers and business- or building-owners are looking more frequently toward adding new entry awnings at key traffic and visibility locations. Once installed, high-quality awnings help limit the location’s energy gain and loss every day and night, and do this during their considerable service lifetime. As a result, their benefits work out to be extremely cost-effective.

Much of what we do, of course, is all about sign fabrication, installation, and maintenance. But none if it would ever happen if it weren’t for our outstanding sign design department. Design is the crucial step in signage development that determines not only how much a sign costs, but how well it works. That’s why we give it as much time, attention, and expertise as we do. And that’s why we’ve put together an ebook to help you understand the key elements in sign design and – hopefully – to better appreciate the expert design skills and experience we bring to every project. It covers such important topics as: How to Design a Sign for Your Business Design a Sign

Plainridge Casino Opens With Metro Signage Plainville, MA, will never be the same. Not since Plainridge Park Casino formally opened its doors on a pleasant June morning in 2015, with a mission to provide entertainment and enjoyment for the hundreds of folks who were lined up at the door, and ultimately for tens of thousands more in and around Massachusetts. It’s the first casino to open for business since Massachusetts passed its expanded gaming law about four years ago. We can’t take all the credit, of course, but we did perform extensive work on the $250 million, 106,000-square-foot facility’s signage, owned and operated by Penn National Gaming. Plainridge Casino boasts 1,250 slot machines and electronic table games like blackjack, roulette,

Safety in Style

OK – for all of you in architectural design/development who understand the importance of OSHA Safety on various job sites, let’s just put it out there. Couldn’t the uniform be a bit more creative? I mean, the medical industry has a vast array of “scrubs” to choose from, and we’re left to our standard white construction hats, denim jeans, and tan-colored steel toe work boots. Well, being in the field of architectural design and creative design engineering, we just knew there must be a solution to help express our creativity and individuality on a job site without forgoing safety. After a bit of Googling, we found some pink Safety Girl Boots which meet OSHA Safety Code with the steel toe