The Project
M&T Bank Stadium’s exterior signage was in disrepair, posed significant public safety risks and was in need of a safe, energy-efficient upgrade. Our team was given the challenge of removing and replacing the old signage with massive new-and-improved signage that would withstand weather elements, last for years to come and make a statement – whether it be seen by fans on a TV screen or from a distance by those traveling by in the Baltimore area.
Freight posed an additional challenge, as our team had to custom crate the signs and coordinate the transportation of the sign sections over 1,100 miles across the U.S. from our manufacturing facility in Madison, SD to the stadium in Baltimore, MD.
Client
Scope/Key Project Objectives
Decommission, remove and dispose of the old signage
Design, build, and install 4 large, illuminated signs for the exterior elevations of the stadium
Create signs that are self-contained, meaning all wiring is contained within the build of the sign
Overcome logistical issues and a crowded work environment, as the stadium was undergoing a $500 million renovation at the time of installation and other contractors and trades groups were also performing significant work on site, requiring organized communication, strategic planning and increased coordination from our team
Erect structural steel and install each sign in sections in-field, utilizing a large commercial crane and multiple pieces of heavy equipment
Our Solution
- Our team put in a combined total of 6,167 manufacturing hours to fabricate all structural, decorative and electrical components of the signs and install them, which fully meet and exceed building code, preventing future structural failures
- Increased the size of two of the signs, increasing the visibility of the stadium from miles away
- Each sign is comprised of large cabinets, which creates the background for the sponsor’s logo and holds the individually lit letters
- Used LED technology to improve the output of the new signs, giving them a brighter and more vibrant appearance than the previous signs
- Collaborated with a professional engineer to create shop drawings and provide detailed analysis and calculations to meet building code
- Equipped each sign with a complete built-in back up lighting system and all secondary wiring and connections were conducted to primary feed the EMS system, allowing the signs to stay lit at all times (per contractual obligation with the name sponsor) in the case that one of the systems would go down.
Timeline
From the time it was awarded until completion, this project took a total of 11 months and was finished in July of 2024, just prior to the start of the NFL preseason. This timeframe included all bid submittals, removal of the old signage, fabrication of the new signs, transport and final installation.
The Result
- Safe, solid, structurally-sound signage built in a way that allows for future service work to occur with easy access and no special rigging or reach equipment required
- Energy-efficient and reliable illumination with built-in redundancy, ensuring the signs stay lit even in the case of a system outage
- Massive panels that create the background for the sponsors logo and hold the individually lit letters, branding the stadium and making a statement from miles away
