Our Work – Signarama Buffalo Grove, IL

# Custom HDU Routed Signs for Ivy Hall Elementary School in Buffalo Grove, IL ## Bringing School Branding to Life with Custom Dimensional Signage Signarama Buffalo Grove recently completed a custom exterior signage project for **Ivy Hall Elementary School**, featuring beautifully crafted HDU routed signs designed to improve campus identification, enhance wayfinding, and create a welcoming environment for students, parents, staff, and visitors. The project included a large freestanding school identification sign and a coordinating directional sign identifying the District Office, Ivy Hall, and Business Office. Both signs feature a distinctive wood-grain texture, dimensional lettering, custom school graphics, and warm colors that complement the surrounding architecture and landscaping. ## Why HDU Is an Excellent Choice for School Signs High-Density Urethane (HDU) is a premium sign-making material widely used for custom carved signs, routed monument signs, entrance signs, and architectural signage. Unlike traditional wood, HDU resists moisture, rot, and insect damage. Its closed-cell structure makes it particularly suitable for outdoor signage exposed to Illinois weather. Using precision CNC routing, HDU can be shaped into detailed dimensional signs with carved textures, raised lettering, recessed graphics, and custom architectural finishes. For this project, the signs feature: - **Custom routed wood-grain texture** that creates a traditional carved appearance. - **Dimensional white lettering** for excellent readability and contrast. - **Custom green school logo** that reinforces Ivy Hall's identity. - **Coordinated directional graphics** to help visitors navigate the campus. - **Freestanding post-and-panel construction** that complements the school grounds. The finished signs combine the appearance of traditional craftsmanship with the versatility of modern sign fabrication. ## Custom School Entrance and Wayfinding Signs School signage serves several important purposes beyond identifying a building. At Ivy Hall Elementary School, the main entrance sign prominently displays the school's name, logo, and address, while the coordinating directional sign helps visitors locate the District Office, Ivy Hall, and Business Office. Clear, professionally designed school signage helps improve navigation, reinforces institutional identity, and creates a consistent appearance across educational facilities. ## Applications for HDU Routed Signs Custom HDU and CNC-routed signs are ideal for a wide variety of commercial, institutional, and architectural applications, including: - Elementary schools, high schools, and universities - School district offices and administrative buildings - Churches and religious institutions - Parks, forest preserves, and recreational facilities - Golf courses and country clubs - Residential communities and HOA entrances - Apartment complexes and condominium developments - Commercial monument signs - Business entrance and identification signs - Post-and-panel directional signage - Municipal buildings and government facilities - Restaurants, resorts, and hospitality properties HDU signs can be customized with carved wood textures, smooth painted finishes, dimensional logos, and architectural details to complement nearly any property. ## Precision CNC Routing and Custom Sign Fabrication At Signarama Buffalo Grove, we combine advanced CNC routing equipment with professional finishing and fabrication techniques to produce custom dimensional signage. Our capabilities include HDU signs, routed PVC signs, dimensional letters, monument signs, architectural signage, and complete wayfinding systems. From initial design and material selection through fabrication and installation, our team works to deliver durable, attractive signage tailored to each property's needs. ## Custom HDU Signs in Buffalo Grove and the Chicago Suburbs Signarama Buffalo Grove provides custom HDU routed signs, school signs, monument signs, and dimensional business signage throughout Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Arlington Heights, Northbrook, Deerfield, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Lake Zurich, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, and surrounding Chicagoland communities. Whether you need a school entrance sign, a carved monument sign, a commercial property identification sign, or a complete directional signage system, our team can help bring your project to life. **Contact Signarama Buffalo Grove** 847-215-1535 www.SignsOfChicago.com *Custom Signs. Precision Fabrication. Professional Installation.*

When Others Laughed at His Sign, We Took the Project Seriously Every business owner deserves to be taken seriously. When the owner of D & Codie’s Pizza & Breakfast started looking for someone to produce his storefront sign, his experience with another sign company was not what it should have been. Instead of working with him to understand the design and figure out how to manufacture it, he was reportedly met with jokes about the concept and an outrageous $1 million price quote. Whether that number was meant to discourage the project or simply dismiss it, the message was clear: we don’t want to do this. That is not how we operate at Signarama Buffalo Grove. We Looked at the Sign as a Fabrication Challenge, Not a Problem The D & Codie’s logo was not a simple rectangular cabinet or a standard set of block channel letters. It included a custom script, dimensional illuminated lettering and a circular logo incorporating detailed artwork. That takes more thought. So rather than telling the customer what couldn’t be done, our team worked through how it could be done. We engineered and fabricated the custom sign components in our Wheeling shop, including the dimensional illuminated letters and the round logo cabinet. The finished sign retained the character of the restaurant’s branding while creating something substantial enough to work on a commercial storefront. And because we manufacture signs ourselves, we were able to work directly through the fabrication details instead of simply passing the project to somebody else. Built in Our Shop. Installed on His Building. One of the best parts of a custom sign project is seeing it move from drawings and raw materials to a finished product. During fabrication, the D & Codie’s letters were laid out across our production tables while our team completed the lighting, faces, returns and assembly. The large circular logo was fabricated alongside the individual letters before everything was prepared for installation. Then it went where it belonged: on the building. The completed storefront now features the illuminated D & Codie’s lettering and custom circular logo prominently above the entrance, with the secondary Pizza & Breakfast identification below it. It looks like it was always supposed to be there. Sometimes the Right Answer Is Simply, “We Can Build That.” Custom signage is not always easy. Logos were not necessarily designed with aluminum fabrication, acrylic, LEDs, electrical requirements and installation hardware in mind. A good sign manufacturer knows how to translate that artwork into something that can actually be built. That is where experience matters. At Signarama Buffalo Grove, we routinely fabricate custom illuminated signs, channel letters, cabinets, dimensional lettering and specialty signage in-house. Our job is not to make customers feel foolish for bringing us an unusual idea. Our job is to figure it out. D & Codie’s did not need a million-dollar sign. They needed a sign company willing to take their business—and their vision—seriously. That, we could take care of.

How Much Does Event Signage Cost in Chicago? If you’re planning a corporate event, trade show, wedding, fundraiser, gala, grand opening, or branded experience, one question comes up fast: How much does event signage cost? The real answer depends on the type of signage, size, materials, complexity, customization level, and whether you need delivery, installation, and removal. At Signarama Buffalo Grove, we create everything from simple welcome signs to full branded event environments—helping teams across the Chicago area look sharp, stay on schedule, and make a lasting impression. What’s Included in Event Signage? Event signage can include elements like: • Step and repeat backdrops • Dance floor graphics • Welcome signs • Sponsor recognition displays • Directional signage • Foam board presentations • PVC and acrylic signs • Wall murals • Floor graphics • Window graphics • Dimensional logos • Illuminated name signs • Contour-cut logos and lettering • Trade show displays • Branded photo opportunities Most clients mix and match to build a cohesive look—from guest arrival to the final photo moment. What Does a Typical Event Signage Package Cost? A common package (custom backdrop + dance floor graphic + illuminated name sign) typically starts around $5,000. From there, pricing increases based on: • Size and number of elements • Materials and finish level • Installation requirements • Custom fabrication needs • Deadlines and turnaround time Bigger corporate events, trade show exhibits, and fully branded activations may include additional graphics, dimensional components, sponsor displays, and on-site installation. Why Event Planners Choose Signarama Buffalo Grove Many sign companies outsource event graphics and fabrication. At Signarama Buffalo Grove, we handle production in-house with a full capabilities set, including: • Large-format printing • Flatbed printing • CNC routing • Laser cutting • Paint finishing • Dimensional fabrication • Illuminated signage • Custom displays • Professional installation That means fewer delays, faster revisions, and more flexibility when event details change at the last minute. Preferred Pricing for Event Planners We support event planners, marketing agencies, trade show producers, schools, corporations, venues, and non-profit organizations throughout the Chicago area. Qualified event planners and recurring clients may be eligible for preferred pricing and priority production scheduling. Frequently Asked Questions Who makes custom event signage near Chicago? Signarama Buffalo Grove designs, fabricates, and installs custom event signage throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Can you create illuminated signs for events? Yes. We fabricate illuminated name signs, dimensional logos, and branded displays for corporate events, weddings, galas, and trade shows. Can you install and remove event signage? Yes. We offer delivery, installation, and removal for many event graphics and displays. Do you offer event signage for trade shows? Absolutely. We produce trade show graphics, displays, sponsor signage, branded environments, and experiential marketing elements. What event signage creates the biggest visual impact? Backdrops, dance floor graphics, illuminated name signs, dimensional logos, and branded photo opportunities are among the most impactful because they look great and drive photo-worthy moment. Signarama of Buffalo Grove designs, fabricates, and installs custom event signage throughout the greater Chicagoland area, including Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Northbrook, Des Plaines, Wheeling, Deerfield, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills, Lake Zurich, Palatine, Mount Prospect, Glenview, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Skokie, Evanston, Highland Park, Long Grove, Kildeer, Barrington, and surrounding communities. Areas We Serve Arlington Heights Barrington Buffalo Grove Deerfield Des Plaines Evanston Glenview Highland Park Hoffman Estates Kildeer Lake Zurich Lincolnshire Long Grove Mount Prospect Northbrook Palatine Schaumburg Skokie Vernon Hills Wheeling We also serve businesses, schools, parks, municipalities, and commercial property owners throughout the surrounding Chicagoland suburbs.