When a leading post-secondary institution updates its brand identity, the true test happens when digital concepts meet physical architecture.
For Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), launching the new visual identity for the Melville School of Business meant taking bold, geometric artwork—defined by vibrant teal and magenta brand accents—and translating it seamlessly across diverse outdoor building surfaces and indoor student pathways.
A project of this scale requires far more than just printing signs.
It demands precise material engineering, strict color calibration, and installation expertise capable of handling both heavy West Coast weather and high-traffic interior spaces.
Here is how CAN-DESIGN delivered a complete end-to-end environmental signage package for KPU, ensuring absolute visual continuity from the street to the stairwell.
1. Exterior Impact: High-Exposure Building Signage
An institution’s exterior signage establishes immediate presence and authority.
For the exterior of the Melville School of Business, the installation needed to cut through the surrounding architectural textures while standing up to the harsh Pacific Northwest climate.
Heavy-Duty Composite Wall Panels
Mounted directly onto the building’s tiled masonry facade, custom-fabricated square composite sign panels showcase KPU’s signature geometric fan artwork and typography.
- The Engineering Detail: Built on rigid, weather-resistant composite backing, these panels resist thermal expansion, ensuring zero warping or edge lifting during extreme freeze-thaw cycles.
Vertical Architectural Banners
To capture eye-level attention across main campus thoroughfares, vertical banner systems were deployed along exterior walls.
- The Engineering Detail: Utilizing top and bottom heavy-duty aluminum tension rails, these banners remain taut, smooth, and legible even under high wind loads and heavy rainfall.
2. Interior Environmental UX: Turning Functional Spaces into Brand Landmarks
Branding shouldn’t stop at the front door. High-growth universities and corporate headquarters realize that secondary transit zones—like stairwells, elevator lobbies, and connectors—are prime opportunities for brand immersion.
Multi-Story Vertical Stairwell Panels
Stairwells are traditionally sterile, utilitarian environments. CAN-DESIGN transformed these high-foot-traffic areas into striking, multi-story visual landmarks by manufacturing floor-to-ceiling vertical graphics panels.
- The Design Integration: Mounted adjacent to tall glass architectural windows, these interior wall panels catch natural sunlight, creating a bright, welcoming backdrop that guides students naturally between floor levels.
3. The Technical Hurdle: Achieving True Color Consistency Across Substrates
The biggest risk in a large-scale campus or enterprise rollout is color drift.
When a brand identity uses highly saturated shades—like KPU’s signature teal and magenta—printing on different materials can easily lead to mismatched colors. A color profile that prints perfectly on a rigid exterior metal panel can look dull or muddy when printed on an interior wall substrate or a flexible outdoor banner fabric.
| Signage Type | Substrate & Hardware | Key Operational Function |
| Exterior Facade Panel | Rigid Aluminum Composite | High-impact facade branding built to withstand PNW weather. |
| Exterior Wall Banner | Heavy-Duty Banner Material + Aluminum Tension Rails | Eye-level directional visibility along main pedestrian paths. |
| Interior Stairwell Graphics | Architectural Interior Wall Panel System | Elevates functional indoor spaces into inspiring brand touchpoints. |
How CAN-DESIGN Solved It:
By managing the entire production process in-house at our Burnaby fabrication facility, our team performed rigorous pre-flight color profiling across every single substrate. Whether viewed on a backlit interior wall or a sunlit exterior building facade, the teal and magenta hues match perfectly across the entire campus.
Elevate Your Campus or Corporate Footprint
Whether you are managing a single university campus, updating regional franchise locations, or executing a national corporate rebranding, physical consistency is what protects your brand’s credibility.
At CAN-DESIGN, we specialize in solving complex spatial and material challenges—taking your brand from initial vector files to flawless on-site installation.
Ready to Upgrade Your Space?
Don’t let installation hurdles or material mismatch weaken your brand launch. Let’s build an environmental graphic system that leaves a lasting impression.
[Book an Environmental Graphic and Wayfinding Consultation with CAN-DESIGN Today]