Project Overview
Quality Inn, part of the Choice Hotels family, required a complete reface of their freestanding pole sign to comply with updated brand standards. The existing sign was aging, the fluorescent lighting was failing, and the face panels were faded and cracked from years of sun exposure.
Genius Signs was contracted to handle the complete project: structural assessment of the existing pole and cabinet, fabrication of new acrylic face panels with updated brand graphics, full LED conversion of the interior lighting, and reinstallation of the refaced sign cabinet.
Sign Type & Materials
The freestanding pole sign stands approximately 25 feet tall with a double-sided illuminated cabinet. The refaced cabinet features new 3/16" translucent white acrylic face panels with digitally printed brand graphics applied using high-durability 3M overlaminates rated for 7+ years of outdoor life.
The interior lighting was completely upgraded from aging fluorescent tubes to commercial-grade LED modules. The LED retrofit delivers approximately 40% brighter output while consuming 60% less electricity than the old fluorescent system. All LED components and power supplies are UL Listed.
Challenges & Solutions
Working on a freestanding pole sign presents unique safety and logistical challenges. The sign cabinet needed to be lowered from a 25-foot pole using a crane, which required careful coordination with the hotel to avoid disrupting guest parking and operations.
During the structural assessment, our team identified corrosion in several areas of the sign cabinet frame. Rather than simply patching and painting, we performed proper structural repairs, grinding out corroded sections and welding in new steel to ensure the cabinet would safely support the new face panels and LED components for years to come.
The brand conversion also required exact compliance with Choice Hotels' sign program specifications, including precise Pantone color matching, font sizing, and layout dimensions. Our graphics department worked from the official brand kit to ensure the finished sign would pass the franchise's brand compliance review.
Results
The refaced Quality Inn pole sign looks brand new. The updated graphics are crisp and vibrant, the LED illumination is bright and even on both faces, and the structural repairs ensure the sign will perform safely for the next decade or more.
The hotel's management reported that the new sign significantly improved their roadside visibility, particularly at night. The LED upgrade also reduced the property's sign-related energy costs by approximately 60%, delivering ongoing savings on top of the improved appearance.
The project was completed on schedule, the sign passed franchise brand compliance review on the first submission, and the hotel never had to close or restrict parking during the work.
