Customizing 80+ Exhibition Light Boxes for Popular Tourist Attractions
The Willis Tower, formerly known as the “Sears Tower,” is a 110-story skyscraper in the heart of downtown Chicago.
The tower was considered the tallest tower in the United States until 2014 when the One World Trade Center was introduced. As a major landmark and ranking in the top 10 tourist attraction destinations, the building draws 1.7 million people every year to see the view from the Skydeck. From the Skydeck, you can appreciate Chicago’s architecture as well as some big attractions like Wrigley Field.
In addition to it being a tourist attraction, the tower also serves as a workplace for 100 different corporate tenants ranging from United Airlines to law firms, retail companies, and several eateries. It’s important to showcase the city’s history, growth, and contributions to the community. The incorporation of bright and interactive exhibition light boxes was a key element in the success of the Willis Towers’ latest exhibition.
Challenge
In 2019, the Willis Tower decided to create a new exhibition for their visitors to discover the story of Chicago as they make their way to the Skydeck area. DSA was chosen as a partner by Chicago Scenic Studios to bring this exhibition to life and create displays able to brighten the 7 rooms of this exhibit, two stories below ground level. Together we created a magical experience for the Tower guests to learn about the city, its culture and history through beautiful pictures and interactive experiences.
Solution
We designed and fabricated more than 80 custom exhibition light boxes in various sizes and shapes:
- Ultra-bright, energy-efficient LED
- Backlit for full illumination coverage
- Large format & Custom Shapes with cutouts
- Frameless durable aluminum construction
- Fabric SEG printing, using dye sublimation and strong color saturation
DSA Products
Collaboration with DSA Signage
Chicago Scenic Studios, led by Jim Lardino, spearheaded the construction and installation of the Willis Tower’s iconic Sky Deck and Ledge attractions, drawing in an impressive 1.7 million visitors annually. Situated two stories below ground level, these attractions serve as a gateway to Chicago’s rich history, beginning with the narrative of the city’s origin, including the infamous Chicago Fire, and expanding to showcase Chicago’s prominent presence on the global stage. Integral to this storytelling are DSA’s innovative exhibition light boxes, meticulously designed to enhance the visitor experience. Lardino appreciated our expertise in light box technology, and praised our ability to elevate every aspect of the installation, from material selection and printing to LED integration, with exceptional responsiveness and quality.
DSA’s partnership with Chicago Scenic Studios on the Willis Tower project exemplifies our commitment to excellence in landmark and museum signage solutions. With a keen focus on detail, we navigated various constraints, including printer selection and LED color temperatures, to deliver unparalleled results. Lardino appreciated the flawless execution, noting the seamless integration of electronic controls and print quality, which has contributed to the project’s overall success.
Our Exhibition Light Box and Signage Solutions
DSA Signage has earned a glowing reputation as the golden standard among exhibition light box solutions. From Willis Tower to the Space Needle, we’ve helped attractions, both big and small, intensify their displays and achieve spectacular results.
We offer our clients an impeccable experience with outstanding benefits that include the following:
- Customized, durable products to suit your design and size needs
- Rich colors adjusted to your preferred tone and the ambiance you want to create
- Superb customer service throughout the lifecycle of your exhibition light box display
- Competitive lead times
- Manufacturer warranty
- UL listed
- Dedicated account manager