Dominican University, a private Catholic college in River Forest, IL has wanted to update their gymnasium for years.  Everything fell into place recently when Benchmark was called in to print and install the project.

Previously the area was segmented into a smaller gymnasium and racquetball courts, but as popularity of the sport decreased the school knew it was time to update.  Removing the court walls opened up the space to the size it is today; one large room with all kinds of fitness equipment.  The gym is not only open to staff and students, it’s also open for alumni!  300 people came within the first two days of its grand opening.

The graphics installed in the gym use many mediums.  Designer Les Gluszynski, who is also the assistant men’s soccer coach at Dominican, worked with his Benchmark rep to create a modern, branded, environment, to meet the requirements of the various surfaces, and stay within the school’s budget.

The large panels that were put on the wall are printed fabric.  The lightweight fabric panels were stretched and mounted over the existing brick walls using a hanging bar system.  This strategy meant that Dominican didn’t have to paint brick and when styles or content needs to change, the panels can easily be redesigned, printed, and swapped out.  Instead, the mounting brackets are installed into the walls and the fabric can be released and replaced when needed.

Another media used in the project was custom printed self-adhesive vinyl.  It creates the large “Stars” decal and bold stripes. All carry the same pattern that was used in the fabric images. Both were pre-cut on Benchmark’s digital die cut table and then applied onsite.

The last application was the Dominican sign.  The 3/4 inch thick glossy Dominican lettering was created with color matched Lambda prints, MDF, and gloss lexan mounted with a hidden standoff system.  The combination makes a bold branding statement.

As you can see, there were a variety of methods used to create one cohesive color matched look throughout the gym.  The school’s colors and theme were conveyed in fabric, vinyl and Lambda.  This project is a great example of how graphics can update and improve existing spaces quickly and cost effectively.

Call a Benchmark rep to get started on your next large scale installation.