ARIEL LUXURY SUITES
Architect: AVRP studios
Builder: Swinerton Builders
Developer: Ariel LLP
Sign Designer: Hollis Brand Culture
“Beginning with the end in mind” can be a great strategy when embarking on a difficult and challenging project. When one starts at the end, the primary aim often shifts from “What do we want”, to “What SHOULD we build” based on important factors like final placement, designed viewing distance, and proximity to the ocean or to pedestrians, among other influencers.
So it should come to no surprise this thought process was recently used when Clear Sign was chosen to provide signage for downtown San Diego’s newest ultra-premium property, Ariel Luxury Suites. Swinerton Builders is responsible for this $59 million 24-story mixed-use high-rise consisting of over 200,000 SF of high-end apartments and 18,000 SF of premium retail space with underground parking. Located in Little Italy, Ariel Luxury Suites offers stunning bay and city views along with spacious balconies and beautifully designed luxury finishes. With a project scope encompassing the interior code signage, exterior illuminated signage, 4000sqft wall mural and 600 linear feet of Building Lighting, this project was certain to offer some challenges to the Clear Sign & Design team.
Like many other high-end sign packages Hollis Brand Culture has designed this one was oozing with luxury. From the 316 stainless steel suite ID’s and evacuation maps to the Halo-Lit exterior channel letters with LED illumination, Ariel Luxury Suites takes the concept of signage far beyond the commonplace and mundane. The crown jewel is a 125’ long architectural masterpiece designed to replace a now hidden Wyland mural – the property’s new multi-layered modern art 316-SS mural with LED accent lighting pays tribute to San Diego’s long time maritime heritage.
Wrapping up the scope was the design and installation of over 600’ of green LED building lighting. Like branding, visibility was also important to the building owner who wanted to make sure their new building stood out from the crowd not only during the day, but at light. The bright green LED’s used grab the wanted attention with a very tasteful approach and do so using very little electricity.
Clear Sign & Design’s capability to responsibly execute on Hollis Brand’s original intent for the interior signs, exterior signs, and the wall mural was a “clear” advantage to everyone involved. Conventional wisdom would have divided the project among four separate vendors, only adding to the stress of building a property of this scope on a tight time schedule.
At Clear Sign, our competitive advantage lies in our vast capabilities and in the client-centric culture that fuels our collaborative nature. At the end of the day, Ariel Suites raises the bar for what an ultra-premium apartment building SHOULD be.
To find out how Clear Sign can benefit your next project feel free to give us a call at 760.736.8111 and lets start something today!
“Recently, a very important client of mine was in need of some new signage on their high-profile, high-rise building in Irvine. This sign would be seen from the freeway, commercial planes, and surrounding retail. The responsibility for this sign was delegated to me and it was critical that this sign be seen, day and night!
Thankfully, I had worked with Clear Signs previously and was confident of the quality and professionalism I could expect. Immediately upon installation, I received calls from both the President and the CFO thanking me. Gabe made me look like a hero and will always come highly recommended by me to anyone needing professional signage.”
Steve Lane
Sr. VP/Partner
Voit Real Estate
“From the very beginning Gabe and the team at Clear Signs exhibited a high level of professionalism. The process from bid to installation was flawless. Not only this, but they have completed projects on both of our high rise locations in San Diego and Irvine as well as our boutique shops in Northern California. Their craftsmanship from from Southern California to Northern is amazing! I’d recommend Clear signs for all your signage needs.”
Scharrell Jackson
COO/CFO
Squar Milner
“Urban Housing takes tremendous pride in the quality of our work, and the service we provide to our clients. Selecting sign vendors is no different, which is why Clear Sign has earned a spot on the preferred list after a flawless execution for a key client of ours.”
Lenette Hewitt
VP of Marketing
Urban Partners
“My company has always ascribed to the highest standards in customer service so it’s easy for me to recognize. No matter what size the project, Gabe and the rest of the team at Clear Sign & Design have always given me the support I needed in a timely manner.”
Stacy Lombardo
Sr. VP of Operations
Torrey Pines Bank
“We have had a great working relationship with Clear Sign for over 10 years and are very pleased with their dedication to creating beautiful signs for Valley View Casino & Hotel. Clear Sign has always treated us fairly and their team is not only efficient but professional. We look forward to a continued partnership and hope to work together for many years to come.”
Joe Navarro
President - CEO
Valley View Casino & Hotel
“We were in a desperate place, 4 days before final inspection/occupancy, and our client's vendor could not deliver any of the code required signage in time. With one call – Clear Sign manufactured and installed nearly 600 code signs with time to spare. This hail mary saved the day and set the new standard for what a preferred vendor can do.”
Joe Bigglione
Sr. Project Manager
CW Driver Builders
“From Florida to San Diego and everywhere in between
Clear Sign has been with us every step of the way handling all of our signage needs no matter where the next race track is located. Nine years and 18 locations later, Steve remains my “sign guy” of choice.”
David Danglard
President - CEO
K1 Speed Indoor Karting
“Its not that I felt Clear Sign couldn’t do the work… but initially I felt more comfortable choosing a vendor that was local to the project which Clear Sign was not. Ironically, my “local” vendor ended up dropping the ball, and Clear Sign picked it up and literally scored a touchdown with their products despite the super tight timeline and custom design requirements. Steve and his team have earned their spot in my list of approved vendors.”
Noah Rosenblatt
Sr. Creative Director
CON-AM Management
“Being a construction manager and choosing a sign vendor from a bid list can be difficult, because having the lowest price rarely nets the desired results. Having worked with Steve and the team over at Clear Sign on a few high profile projects and seeing the benefits first-hand made me a believer. They are now one of my few preferred signage vendors.”
Roger Kazemier
Field Operations Manager
Swinerton Builders
“From day one - Clear Sign understood our philosophy on quality and design, and it showed in the professional execution of our new interior and exterior sign package, replacing the tired looking 10+ year-old original product. This alignment priorities benefitted the entire project, and increased foot traffic didn't hurt either!”
Ryan Krasner
General Manager
Harold Stevens Jewelers
“It was only a short time after being introduced as our builders preferred vendor did I start to realize that Clear Signs capabilities were perfectly suited for my project. The fact that they were able to do the work of what has typically been 3-4 different contractors on a project this size provided an enormous advantage. From interior to exterior… a 4000sqft SS wall mural and LED building lighting Clear Sign had the experience to make my project a success”
Steve Donlon
Director of Construction
Ariel Suites LLC
“As the proud director of one of San Diego’s oldest Theaters It was important for us to maintain our historic animated neon sign. 18 months and tens of thousands of dollars later it was clear our current vendor was in over his head – In the end… it was the talented team at Clear Sign that finally finished the job that others could not, and brought life back to our beloved sign”
David Schulz
Artistic Director
Star Theater of Oceanside
“It can often times be difficult to find subs that act in the best interest of the project on a consistent basis. Gabe and the team at Clear Sign were a Clear exception on our last downtown project. From roaming deadlines, shifting scope and non-ideal site conditions the team at Clear Sign made easy work of a complicated project and did their part to help us see it across the finish line.”
Zach Adams
Sr. Project Manager
OliverMcMilan
“I don’t know if am more surprised at how difficult the sign criteria committee was or that William and the team at Clear Sign stuck with my project for over 16 months in order to get it approved and completed, either way I am pleased at the end result and patience observed .”
Song Gao
Supervisor
Carlsbad Tech
