The University of Maine (UMaine) is an NCAA Division I school located in scenic Orono, Maine. Both their Men’s and Women’s hockey programs compete in the Hockey East conference, with five championship appearances and one National Championship win for the men’s program since 2000. As the success of their programs grew, UMaine continued to invest in improvements to their facilities. In 2006, the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center was built as an extension of the Alfond Arena to house administrative offices, athletic facilities, meeting rooms, an apparel shop, and more.
Early in 2018, UMaine had plans for additional signage displays that they wanted to add to the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center to strengthen branding and add decor to some blank spaces. After receiving pricing bids from several businesses, UMaine selected AMI Graphics to complete the work. Having worked together on prior projects over the past decade, both parties felt comfortable working together. After surveying the location in the summer of 2018, AMI worked with UMaine to finalize design concepts. AMI then produced the signage materials and returned later in the year to install the signage.
The custom graphics produced and installed included adhesive window graphics on the entrance to the building, custom dimensional signage adjacent to entryway doors, and adhesive wall murals on the soffit inside the lobby.
In the entrance to the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center, the upper windows were wrapped with adhesive window graphics that display Coach Shawn Walsh holding the 1999 NCAA Championship trophy. These window wraps decorate an otherwise blank façade with a photo of Shawn Walsh himself, while still allowing natural light to pass through and brighten the interior of the building. In addition to adding decor to the building, these window graphics instill pride in students and pay homage to the school’s storied history.
Located on both sides of the entranceway doors, dimensional signage that features the Black Bears’ team logo was installed to bolster branding in a bold way. Team logos are a common choice for dimensional signage since they create a distinct visual that is professional and eye-catching to anyone passing by.
Inside the lobby of the building, adhesive wall graphics were used along the soffit. These graphics are a great way to strengthen branding while simultaneously honoring teams and student-athletes from prior years. Adhesive wall murals display graphics crisply and adhere in a way that appears as if they were painted onto the wall.
This project at the University of Maine highlights the effectiveness that complementary signage designs on varied products can have. The window graphics that greet visitors as we they enter the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center match the design of the wall graphics located in the lobby creating a theme that flows throughout the building.
At AMI Graphics, we producing and installing signage that has a positive impact on fans and athletes alike. No matter what your signage goal is, the experts at AMI Graphics will bring your ideas to life in a crisp, professional manner. Contact us today to learn more!
