Signbox have recently completed an integrated signage project for the London head office of the worldwide travel group Expedia Inc. Expedia are the latest high profile tenant for the multi-award winning Angel Building in London’s EC1, a former BT exchange that has been completely transformed by development company Derwent London into a striking, ultra modern office complex. It now contains 260,000 square feet of high specification office space with café, specially commissioned works of art and large rooftop terraces affording spectacular views over London.
Signbox were nominated early on by AHMM, the appointed architects for the building, to complete all the ‘base’ signage for the building including external, floor, wayfinding and emergency. Signbox were then selected by the first major tenant, Cancer Research UK, who relocated to the Angel Building so that they could bring all their London-based staff together in a single central London building, reducing overall operating costs and increasing efficiency. Signbox undertook all the interior signage for Cancer research which encompassed branding signage, wayfinding signage, large format impact walls and extensive manifestation applications.
Signbox worked closely with Expedia’s appointed architects, EDGE Architecture + Design, to deliver a tailor-made signage package; the key elements being branding, wayfinding, large format digital print wallpaper and extensive manifestation applications along with an unusual but high impact treatment for the reception area.
Following a competitive tender, Signbox were awarded the sub-contract by the specialist fit out contractor, Paragon Management. All the signage produced by Signbox was bespoke, with materials manufactured in- house by the company at their Egham facility using their recently installed Durst Omega 1 UV large format printer. This can print with a resolution of 1728dpi – to fine art quality.
The contract involved printing more than 400 square metres of material – all installed over a 10 day period ahead of Expedia staff taking up residence. Some of the office space wall dressings were the Class 0 fire rated Muraspec digital wall covering Digimura, in both smooth and tactile surface finishes.
Mark Bartlett, Managing Director of Signbox, comments, “The reception area was a particular challenge – 700 magnetic poster holders on a 10 metre long wall which had to be built off-site. It proved to be very delicate work with the different heights and projections of the posters. It was also designed for easy maintenance with the capability to change or update any of the posters, as desired. The final effect is dramatic and will no doubt create a strong and positive impression on visitors to Expedia’s offices.
