Sign 2000 Goes Nationwide
Following months of planning, Portman Building Society merged with the Nationwide Building Society on 28th August 2007. Over that Bank Holiday weekend, there was the task of re-branding the Portman name and corporate identity to that of the Nationwide.
Nationwide had as its Project Managers Mace – one of the world’s most diverse management and construction companies with specialist project managers in the Retail sector, particularly in high street banking.
Amongst many other things, Mace was tasked with appointing the architectural sign manufacturing and installation companies that would carry out the physical re-branding.
Gareth Curtis, Mace Project Manager, explains the criteria that they were seeking to match.
“The capability to do the job. Yes, price was important but no more important than other factors such as being capable of providing a quality product; of not being overstretched by what would be a demanding task; of being able to work in partnership with other contracting specialists; and being able to deliver on time.”
The selection process involved interested parties making a presentation that set how they would approach the project and providing references to other similarly logistically challenging projects.
Sign 2000, of Paddock Wood, Kent, successfully met these criteria and was awarded the contract for the South East of England area involving 32 locations.
Working closely with Mace, Sign 2000 quickly surveyed each of the sites and produced design drawings utilising CAD equipment that superimposed suggested designs on digital images of the existing properties. They confirmed quotations and provided assessments of any supporting works required. Following approval, manufacturing was commenced.
Those sites that were to be re-branded had to be completed prior to the launch date. Over a period of ten weeks Sign 2000 designed, manufactured and installed the new Nationwide identity at these Portman locations, but overlaid the new signage with temporary banners featuring the Portman name. In this way, the unveiling of the new Nationwide branding could be achieved simultaneously over the Bank Holiday weekend.
As these sites were unveiled, so too all internal branding was changed to reflect the change to Nationwide. In addition all sites that had been closed had all external signage removed and shop fronts neutralised.
The Nationwide signage was constructed from an internally illuminated fabricated aluminium fascia and projecting sign-boxes with coloured acrylic panels being laser cut and inlaid flush with a highly polished stainless steel perimeter frame.
Illuminated and non-illuminated individual letters were fabricated from satin stainless steel. Externally illuminated double sided traditional projecting signs were installed.
Although working to a tight schedule Sign 2000 achieved the objectives of delivering on time, to budget and providing the Nationwide with a quality result.
