| When the NBA city restaurant company was approached by the Minnesota Timberwolves and Target center to help revive the arena restaurant they stated that an eye popping spectacular sign was key to their success. After working with Shea Architects on different design ideas, they decided a basketball being shot into a net would provide the necessary attraction. A great idea, but how do you implement it? That is when Signcrafters was brought into help design a giant moving basketball on the side of the building that actually went through and even larger basket. Working with the initial rough design ideas from Shea, Signcrafters turned them into an illuminated reality. The basketball became 3 separate balls that were animated to give the appearance of a ball moving down the wall into the net. A fourth ball was then positioned in the net and when it “scored” the net would also flash. All of this was incorporated into a 3 dimensional illuminated sign which curved around the building corner to inform the public of the restaurant name. Of course even though the design was finalized and the engineering done, the last hurdle to clear was that of city approval. After diligently working with the city to find a way to make the sign a reality, an approval from the city commission was finally granted and fabrication began. With 6 weeks to produce 4-12′ animated 3-D basket balls, one 25′ 3D net and one channel letter wall sign time was tight. Resources were maximized and the project was completed on time and in budget. The sign now stands prominently on a main intersection in downtown Minneapolis lighting the way not only to the restaurant but to the arena as well. A unique project with unique circumstances that in the end creates a unique sign that helps to ensure the success of the restaurant. |
