Grand cafés in Europe are comfortable places where neighbors can meet over an espresso, a snack, a meal, or an ale. From bicycles and biers, to mussels and frites, Café Hollander integrates elements of the Benelux region’s culture.
The newest Cafe Hollander is located in Brookfield, Wisconsin. It features a rooftop deck and lounge, a patio at street level and overhead doors to open up the restaurant on warm days. The location is a new mall called the Corners of Brookfield, a 750,000-square-foot premier lifestyle center.
The Lowland Group’s (owners of the café) primary goal was to maintain the branding they’ve established over the years. We’ve worked on a number of projects with the restaurant group dating back to the early 2000’s, including the original Café Hollander, which was built in 2006 (#RepeatCustomer).
To accomplish their goal, we worked with them on coming up with a complete sign package that included a circular building sign, a marquee sign, channel letters and a roof top sign.
ROOF MOUNTED SIGN
The rooftop channel letters and logo are mounted on a 35’W x 7’H steel supporting structure or frame. The frame required engineering and coordination with the general contractor and a structural engineer.
The sign features double layer channel letters and LED bulbs that replicate incandescent lights. We used jacketed low voltage cable with ground through the wall to remote power supply behind exterior wall. We also used jacketed low voltage cable jump to the remote power supply in the raceway.
BUILDING SIGNS
The building signs are similar to the rooftop sign. One is mounted on the South Elevation of the restaurant building and the other is on the West Elevation. They feature 3’ aluminum fabricated channel letters that are flush mounted on cedar finish wall in two locations above garage door style entrances. They also feature LED chaser bulbs that have the look and feel of old school incandescent bulbs.
The channel letters are accompanied by 6’ diameter circular shaped and LED illuminated medallion cabinet signs. We used laser cut steel with a patina finish. It features a vinyl overlay and has LED tube lighting that replicates the look of neon light around the perimeter.
MARQUEE SIGN
The marquee sign is mounted flush to an exterior wall and is internally illuminated with a face that is laser cut steel with a patina finish and vinyl overlay. Tube light around perimeter illuminates the sign’s shape. The perimeter also includes LED chaser bulbs that represent incandescent bulbs. However, the lights don’t chase, they stay constant.
Many folks consider incandescent bulbs have an inferior service life. LED’s are getting better and better all the time, especially the soft amber glow that makes this sign special.
INSTALLATION
Special equipment was required to lift the roof top sign. Most of the building is built over a parking structure, which makes the ground below hollow. We had to stay off the parking structure. A large 100 ton crane and extended reach snorkel lifts were used to reach over the underground parking structure, due to the weight restrictions of the parking structure.
RESULTS
We are very happy to report that the team successfully came in on budget(#OnBudget). We value engineered the project to align with the level of investment the client wanted to make. And given our implementation of the design along with the right choice of dimensions, painting scheme and lighting strategy, the client enjoys the brand recognition they sought.
Here’s what Dan Herwig, Lowlands Group Director of Brand and Marketing, had to say, “We recently partnered with Sign Effectz to design, fabricate and install the signage for our new Café Hollander location at the Corners of Brookfield. We couldn’t be more pleased with the results. They delivered a solution that was brand-right and budget conscious, all while coordinating details from start to finish. This project proved we can count on Sign Effectz.”
Check out video of the new sign on the Sign Effectz, Inc. You Tube channel.
