LOCATION
Carlsbad, CA
Historic Highway 101
THE VISION
A Shared Identity Rooted in History
The idea began with Carlton Lund, a local real estate broker and former chairman of Carlsbad’s Chamber of Commerce. He envisioned a distinctive city sign that would catch the attention of people traveling along the Pacific Coast Highway and encourage them to stop, take a photograph and visit local merchants.
Building support required more than choosing a name and a location. Community members brought different ideas about how the sign should look and what it should represent. Federal Heath joined the project in 2013 to help develop the design and evaluate the practical requirements of engineering and construction.
A photograph from the 1930s became a turning point. It showed a large “Carlsbad” sign suspended across a street, giving the proposed landmark a connection to the city’s past. That historical reference helped shape a design the community could support. TaylorMade Golf’s sponsorship then helped move the proposal toward City Council approval.
- Community vision developed into a shared design
- Historical photograph guided the final direction
THE EXECUTION
Custom Engineering, Manufacturing and Delivery
Once approved, Federal Heath finalized the design drawings and proceeded with surveying, permitting, engineering and manufacturing. This coordinated scope translated the community’s vision into a large custom sign designed for its prominent location above a public roadway.
The finished archway measured 82 feet wide and 29 feet tall. Federal Heath incorporated both LED and neon illumination, giving the sign a distinct nighttime presence while preserving the character of the design. Lund stayed involved throughout production, visiting the nearby Oceanside plant to see the work progress and speak with the people bringing the sign to life.
Delivery required its own preparation. The archway traveled on a specially extended flatbed truck, and a dry run was completed in advance to confirm that the vehicle could navigate the planned route. The transportation plan connected the manufacturing phase with the field work needed to position the sign across historic Highway 101, known locally as Carlsbad Boulevard.
- 82-foot-wide archway with LED and neon illumination
- Delivery route checked with a flatbed dry run
THE RESULT
A Recognizable Welcome to Carlsbad Village
Swain Sign completed the installation, hoisting and securing the archway as the project drew attention from the community. The city celebrated with a lighting ceremony on January 8, 2015, marking the completion of a vision that had taken years of discussion, design and coordination.
The completed sign became a landmark and a popular backdrop for photographs. Its location gives Carlsbad Village a distinctive visual identity for residents and visitors, while the illuminated lettering keeps that identity visible after dark. In 2017, the archway was recreated as a 5,000-piece model at Legoland, extending its recognition beyond the roadway itself.
For communities considering a landmark sign, the Carlsbad project illustrates how historical inspiration, stakeholder involvement and practical execution can work together. Federal Heath helped connect those priorities through design and engineering, manufacturing and delivery planning, supporting an installation built around the character of the place it represents.
