What we build
The first thing a client sees when the elevator opens
A reception wall is a short, controlled moment — one wordmark, one light source, one material story. We build lobby signage that pairs with the architecture instead of competing with it, and we detail it so the landlord approves the drawing on the first pass.
- Backlit & halo-lit logo walls
- Reverse-lit metal or acrylic letters floated off the reception wall with LED halo. Reads as expensive on camera and in person, and it's the look most Class A tenants ask for by name.
- Push-through acrylic
- Cut acrylic pushed through a painted or brushed aluminum face so the type glows while the panel stays solid. Crisp at small sizes, which matters when the logo has fine serifs or a tight mark.
- Layered wood, brass & stone
- Dimensional builds combining walnut or oak with brass, blackened steel, or stone veneer. Used when the sign has to sit inside a designed interior rather than announce itself against it.
- Dimensional letters & plaques
- Non-illuminated brushed aluminum, cast bronze, or acrylic lettering — flush or stud-mounted. The right answer for suite entries, floor identification, and multi-tenant directories.
NYC reality check
What installing in a New York office building actually involves
- Most Manhattan buildings require a COI naming the landlord and managing agent before you can bring a lift or tools upstairs.
- Freight elevator windows and after-hours access are booked days ahead — we schedule the install around the building, not the other way around.
- Interior lobby signage generally needs no DOB sign permit, but base building alterations and new electrical do need coordination.
- Landlord sign criteria often cap size, illumination, and mounting method — we submit shop drawings for approval first.
- End-of-lease removal matters: we mount so the wall can be patched and painted, not rebuilt.
Also fitting out a storefront? See exterior signs and channel letters and our guide to NYC sign permits.
Process
Survey to install day
- 01
Site survey
We measure the reception wall, check substrate and power, and photograph sightlines from the elevator bank and entry.
- 02
Design
Scaled layouts against your actual wall, plus material and finish samples so nobody is guessing from a PDF.
- 03
Approvals
Shop drawings and a lighting plan for the landlord, architect, or GC — including mounting details and load.
- 04
Fabrication
Letters, panels, and LED systems built and finished in our Manhattan shop.
- 05
Install
Licensed, insured crew with same-day COIs, working evenings or weekends when the lobby has to stay open.
FAQ
Lobby signage questions we get weekly
- How long does a lobby sign take?
- Typically 2–4 weeks from approved artwork: about a week for design and approvals, two weeks in fabrication, then a scheduled install. Illuminated builds with new electrical run toward the longer end.
- Do we need a permit for an interior lobby sign?
- Interior tenant signage generally does not require a DOB sign permit. What you almost always do need is landlord approval against the building's sign criteria, plus a certificate of insurance for the install.
- Can you work with our architect or GC?
- Constantly. We issue shop drawings, mounting specs, and a lighting plan for review, and we coordinate the sign install with the construction schedule so it lands after paint and before move-in.
- Can the sign be removed cleanly at end of lease?
- Yes. We design mounting so the wall patches and paints back to base condition, and we can handle the removal itself when the lease ends.
- What does a custom lobby sign cost in NYC?
- It depends on size, material, and whether it's illuminated — a stud-mounted brushed aluminum wordmark and a backlit layered logo wall are different projects. Send dimensions and your logo file and we'll quote in writing, usually within one business day.