Project Background
Belgium-based software firm Odoo first established their East Coast headquarters in Buffalo in 2020, taking a floor at Seneca One tower. In the time since, they have grown their local workforce to more than 175, with plans to grow even more substantially. To make room for this growing team, the company purchased 5 floors at 40 Fountain Plaza in 2023, requiring a sign as bold as their expansion plan.
For Odoo's team this project represented more than just a brand presence in the city. It meant establishing the company as a peer across the Buffalo skyline other major brands like M&T Bank, Marriott and others, sharing the spotlight on national TV for the downtown Buffalo flyovers that accompany the Buffalo Bills prime-time night games.
Key Challenges
Given the magnitude of the project, the size and location of the sign and the timing of the project, the team was presented with a host of challenges bringing this sign to life. The particular challenges included:
- Odoo's formal logo includes gray lettering which is typically very difficult to illuminate without washout.
- Individual letters were as much at 10' tall, weighing 175-225 pounds each, having to withstand the stresses and wind of a mounting that is over 200 feet off the ground.
- Timing for the project was tight as the signage needed to be up for a visit from the company's worldwide leadership, as well as the visibility that would come from the impending 2024 NFL Season.
- Generating visibility from the I190 through way and blimps and sky cams that patrol downtown Buffalo during games.
- Maximizing the size of the signage without having to set up a crane to lift the lettering into place in busy downtown Buffalo.
Solution Proposed
To address the goals and challenges accompanying this project a custom channel letter sign of the Odoo logo was designed manufactured and installed. Some of the more unique elements of the package:
- The individual letters were manufactured in sections which could be assembled on site, allowing each to be brought to the roof of the building in the existing elevators.
- The illumination was provided via an array of multi-colored LEDs with a specialized controller capable of producing millions of different color combination within each individual letter.
- Mounting the signage flush to the upper facade of the building to ensure physical integrity without the need for a costly superstructure.
Outcome
The new Odoo signage was completed in early Fall 2024, on time and on budget, enabling Odoo to celebrate their expansion with their international team, providing a beacon of Odoo's brand across the Buffalo skyline for all to see.
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