Most signs begin the same way.  Someone has an idea or an image, of how they would like their business to be perceived.  Some people sketch designs on cocktail napkins, some people spend hours with software packages they barely know how to use.  Dave Becker of Wheeling Auto Center chose a different approach.  He called his marketing company and his sign company together to meet with him, and together, a design began to take shape. For many years, Dave had wanted a sign that reflected his business.  Modern equipment, up-to-date support systems, progressive marketing campaigns, and first class service has been their standard, yet their sign looked tired and dated.  Finally, after numerous meetings with the local government, Wheeling Auto Center was able to move forward and the project started. During the design meetings, several requirements were established from the onset.  Since their business philosophy is forward-thinking, their sign needed to have a modern feel to it. Wheeling Auto has a great logo and they use it throughout their marketing pieces.  It was important to include his logo and have it be prominent in any sign design.  The changing seasons in Chicago call for different types of service reminders.  A changeable letter area would be a great way to accomplish this task.  And lastly, it needed to be illuminated.  Why have the sign "working" only during the daytime? After several sketches and tweaking of materials and color schemes, we were ready to present our design to the Village of Wheeling for approval.  After including a landscaping plan that included a stone wall and ground plantings, the Village granted approval for us to begin fabrication. After several weeks, installation day had arrived.  We had to bring in the "heavy equipment".  The sign, with the support poles weighed in at about 600 pounds.  Digging the holes, placing the sign in place, filling the holes with concrete took about half the day.  The last task was to have our licensed electrician connect the electricity, and the new Wheeling Auto sign was operational.  What was the first message Dave placed on his new sign? "NEW SIGN SAME GREAT SERVICE"

	Most sign projects begin with a blank palette.  Banner Plumbing's 100,000 sq.' building was no exception.
	First there were customer meetings to decide upon a message and a design.  A presentation to the Village Zoning Board and then an appearance before the Village Board.
	New Cell
	Several challenges were evident from the start.  Due to the shear size of the sign, X'XX', weight wasa consideration in construction.  Also, rectangles are fairly easy to build.  The  irregular shape of the logo was achieved by creating an aluminum "tube-framed" skeleton.  To the framework, we attached an aluminum backing to attache flourescent tube contacts.
	It would be a bad idea to check all the connections AFTER the face is on.  Electrical checks are done for two reasons.  Firstly, we check all the connections, and secondly we look for an even-balanced illumination pattern.  Lighting plans are great on paper, but nothing is as good as the rel thing.  Note:  there are twelve separate ballasts powering this sign.
	Now is the time to attach the returns.  The aluminumn skin is designed in "panels" to enable easy maintenance of the ballasts and bulbs.
	Most "light-boxes" utilize a polybarbonate face.  To the face we apply translucent vinyl graphics.  Smaller faces then, can be slid open for maintenaqnce or for changing.  Clearly another solution was needed for Banner's face.  Cooley Flexface is the ideal product for this job!  Strength, brightness, and longevity are the requirements.  Here the red vinyl is being applied to the white face.
	Where do you stqrt?  We lay out the ov ersized vinyl and start stapling it into the built-in rail.  Obviously it is important to stretch the face as tight as possible.
	The finishing touches prior to trimming the excess.
	Shipped on a flatbed to the location, today is finally "Installation Day"!
	First a t2-ton crane lifts the sign into approximate place.  A second bucket truck hoists an instaqller up the 25' to the top of the sign.
	After 10 people get a say as to where exactly the sign should go, our installer drills bolt holes through the cement pre-cast.
	The finished logo; in place and LEVEL.  Phase 1, complete.  More when we install the remainder of the sign.