ARCHIVE: Category Archive for: Electronic Message Centers (EMC)

A Peek Ahead to 2022

While we don’t have a handy Magic 8 ball able to reliably predict the future, it hasn’t stopped us from making some educated guesses about next year’s signage industry trends. They include: Minimalism in design. We’ll continue to see signs focused on clean, crisp images that evoke elegance. Improved sustainability. As more companies embrace ESG (environmental, social, and governance) policies, they’re incorporating eco-friendly initiatives into their buildings, including signage construction, materials, and power. One of Metro’s recent clients, TÜV SÜD—a Germany-based company offering safety, security, and sustainability solutions—opted to use an innovative wall sign for its U.S. headquarters, for example. Metro’s partner, CityScapes, recommended the preserved moss material featured in the sign. Initially, the clients asked to use real wood

Imagine this scene: A giant arena filled with tens of thousands of screaming fans. Bright lights flood the stage. The bass thrums from giant speakers. The colorful crowd bobs and weaves in time to the music. Or imagine a convention center. Row upon row of booths and tables create a labyrinth of paths weaving through the cavernous space. Giant industry signs hang from the ceiling, on the walls, and suspended from elaborate frames. Professionals move among the displays to network, share expertise, and learn about the latest innovations. What do these two environments share? They both see thousands of visitors at a time — millions of visitors each year. Concert goers and convention or event attendees have specific expectations, including

Video displays can make financial institutions more attractive and approachable.

The Massport Sign at the Braintree Split: Delivered with Speedy Professionalism

Three major highways — Interstate 93, U.S. Route 1, and Route 3 — converge at the Braintree Split. Just 10 miles south of Boston’s Logan International Airport, it’s also home to Massport’s Logan Express, a shuttle bus with a commuter parking lot: The Logan Express Park & Fly. Until recently, however, the sign that advertised this commuter lot badly needed replacing. Rusted and broken, with burnt-out bulbs, the old sign did nothing to call attention to this critical business. The refurbishment of this high profile sign was a key objective of Massport’s CEO, Lisa Wieland. The Project Management team from Edward Paige Corp reached out to Metro Sign in early March with a request for proposal (RFP). Within a week, Metro’s

Depending on who you ask (factor in how long they have been around), digital signage as we know it came on the scene just after the turn of the century. For some of us, that seems like last week… but I digress. It began as an advertising medium, and this focus is easily demonstrated by the first iteration of the digital signage trade show, the Digital Retail Expo. A new vision of advertising opportunities was coincident with the development of flat panel displays and compact video projection. From the beginning, it just made sense to change out the time-honored static

Critical Role of Signage During the COVID-19 Pandemic

While COVID-19 has presented incredible challenges across nearly all industries, it also highlights the critical role being played by the signage industry. Much of the pandemic has focused on the visual — visualizing six feet of space between people, glove and mask wearing to protect each other, flattening the curve, graphics and videos of proper handwashing techniques — and creating effective visuals is the hallmark of an exceptional sign company, like Metro Sign and Awning. The Metro team has leveraged industry best practices in developing clear, visual communications that project calm authority while also offering guidance, instruction, and direction, because we recognize the critical need of our clients to communicate during this challenging time. Spreading the Message Whether digital or

No one likes to get lost! And one of the best ways an institution can help people find their way or get important information quickly and clearly is to employ signage. In fact, signage offers a good tool for higher education settings. Freestanding signs with electronic message center displays (EMC) distribute daily and emergency information efficiently, and wayfinding signs help people navigate campus more easily. Interior signs can reinforce learning by supporting multimedia for lectures or enhance the interdepartmental recognition of student accomplishments by enabling departments to promote their students’ successes. And consistent signage supports both an institution’s branding and elevates its school spirit. Metro Sign has worked with a variety of colleges and universities right here in the heart

One of the colleges with whom Metro Sign has worked is Fitchburg State — a client for over three years. Some of the college’s first projects included adding need-based interior photopolymer Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signs. This initial opportunity led to additional signage projects including wayfinding, monument signs, directories, building identification, and award displays. One important job included the addition of flashing pedestrian signs at crosswalks. College administrators worried that vehicles failed to slow down when students and faculty entered the crosswalks, which could cause a hazardous situation. To keep both vehicle and foot traffic safe, Metro Sign installed environmentally-friendly new pedestrian signs with flashers activated by the press of a button. These solar-powered lights flash visibly to vehicles

For some time now, digital signage has been reinventing the customer experience, impacting marketing strategies like never before and helping boost sales and supplement a company’s revenues in creative and imaginative ways. From vibrant displays that quickly catch the eye and draw in consumers more effectively than static signage to transforming long queues into infotainment