Creating the wayfinding signage for these striking residential apartments on the doorstep of one Manchester’s most exciting neighbourhoods.

Project:  Oxygen
Location:  Manchester
Sector:  Residential
Client: Alliance City Living
Partners: F.r.a. Creative

Stunning Views of Manchester

Oxygen sets an innovative approach to renting apartments and luxury living

Stunning views of Manchester

Situated in one of Manchester’s most upcoming and creative areas with a beautiful marina and excellent schools. Its prime city location is highly accessible with a rich heritage as well as an exciting future ahead of it. Its apartments boast stunning views of Manchester and beyond with a host of luxury services and amenities including a gym and spin studio, cinema room, 25m luxury pool as well as a 5-star spa

Working with FRA, a leading branding and graphic design agency

After a rigorous but thorough tender process, we were delighted that F.r.a. Creative, contracting for Alliance City Living, selected us to build and install their wayfinding design. F.r.a.’s tender proposal was extremely detailed as was their specification documentation, which stipulated their expectations for the entire project, outlining the exact requirements for design and materials, to construction and installation.

We are proud that we consulted on and met all elements of F.r.a.’s brief. For some insight into how we dealt with some of the specifications most significant challenges, please see Oxygen: Spec challenges below.

Upmarket wayfinding signage depicting luxury and indulgence

The project utilised bronze, brass and illuminated signage throughout the building creating a luxurious feel. As brass signage specialists, this was a superb project to work on. We were able to create unique brass as well as bronze signage to captivate the feel of indulgence and luxury. Wonderful signage was created throughout building and estate with a huge variety of materials. With this scheme running throughout the whole building, a whole suite of original and custom-built signage was created, delivered and installed.

Aged Copper Signage

To create this aged copper signage with a verdigris green colour for the 5-star Spa, we utilised a unique process where the brass was fabricated and then treated with chemicals to give it this venerable feel with the engraving on the brass filled to give it extra depth and complexity.

Lift Signage

To create all the lift signs, powder coated metal to a specific Analok powdercoat match were used and incorporated into aged bronze and folded metal.

Unique Signage Scheme

Lots of custom processes were utilised to create an upmarket luxurious feel throughout the building. This sign involved etching, folding of brass, laser cut brass lettering and patination, creating a unique signage scheme.

Projecting Illuminated Signs

An exquisite upmarket external sign was created using illuminated projected signage with a fabricated metal bracket which houses an acrylic LED illuminated sign.

A content client and a continued business partnership

Overall, we are proud to have produced and installed Oxygen’s signage to F.r.a.’s specifications, on time and within budget.

Illuminated Letters

This striking signage for the entrance of the building uses bronze patination on brass with stunning stencil cut illuminated letters.

Laser Cut Letters

The lettering for the signage on the front of the building were laser cut on 6mm toned bronze.

Aged Copper

This incredibly beautiful signage involved engraving into aged copper giving an indulgent texture and ambiance.

Oxygen: Spec challenges

In this section, we provide insight of how we dealt with some of this project spec’s most significant challenges.

Consultation

Upon reviewing F.r.a.’s spec, we identified that many aspects of their design proposal raised significant build challenges.

For their floor identification signage, F.r.a. had specified it to be built from 10mm brass. As a brass signage specialist, we recognised that not only would this be very expensive, when laser cut its near impossible to get a smooth finish, posing a health risk for residents.

In light of this, we advised to create this signage from 6mm brass with hand-polished edges.

In turn, for their reverse-etched signage, F.r.a want a unique asphalt-styled textured finish. As a leader in chemically etched signage, we advised that there was no standard manufacturing process for this finish.

To deliver this unique asphalt-styled textured finish for F.k.a., we created it with our supplier. We then mechanised the process to be able to roll it out on a large scale.

Quality Assurance
F.r.a. work with the top building contractors in the industry and to maintain the utmost quality control, their specification requirements are very challenging, stipulating the highest standards across every phase of the signage project. We worked very closely with F.r.a. to ensure that we upheld the design intent throughout the entire signage project.

To ensure that our signage principles met F.r.a.’s comprehensive requirements, we followed a rigorous quality assurance process.

Before constructing any signage:

  • we used a professional art worker to visualise F.r.a.’s creative vision
  • we prototyped a range of F.r.a.’s more challenging sign finish requests
  • we welcomed F.r.a.’s to visit the workshop to review the signs

When installing the signage:

  • we used software called Siteworx to send F.r.a.’s monthly progress reports
  • conducted an on-site review
Procurement
F.r.a. work with prominent building contractors on a host of projects. To ensure the highest quality, F.r.a.’s specification for the entire signage project are highly challenging.

F.r.a.’s brief and design proposal clearly required a vast quantity of brass. Due to global trade shortages caused by both Brexit and Covid-19, brass is currently very difficult to procure. However, our solid network of suppliers we were able to source brass from a mill based in Germany.

Timescale
F.r.a.’s proposed completion deadline was very tight. Oxygen was an extremely aspirational build, but we were able to achieve the required deadline via a dedicated project manager, efficient suppliers, and a sound quality assurance process.
Delivery and Installation
As the signage was both unique and intricate, F.r.a. requested specific delivery and installation requirements. In order to maximise installation efficiency, we delivered each signage set to the exact installation location. In order to guarantee an orderly site, we were meticulous in how we installed each sign, making sure that once done the site was immaculate and met all safety regulations.