LOCATION
Tyler, Texas
Two healthcare facilities
THE CHALLENGE
Distinctive Entrances, Practical Requirements
The architectural vision called for bold monument signs with custom shapes at the entrances to two CHRISTUS Health locations. Each sign needed to establish a recognizable presence while helping visitors identify the facility. The design also considered people viewing the signs from above, making the overall form part of the branding.
The initial concept placed an operable water fountain at the center of each sign. CHRISTUS Health decided against the water feature because of long-term maintenance concerns. The architect then redesigned those focal points as custom concrete structures, preserving the sculptural direction of the concept.
That change introduced a new challenge: concrete was cost-prohibitive for the shapes envisioned. The team needed another way to achieve the intended appearance while keeping the project’s practical requirements in view.
THE SOLUTION
A Concrete Look, Reimagined in Aluminum
Federal Heath proposed Texcote-finished aluminum panels in place of the concrete structures. The finish gave the panels a textured, concrete-like appearance while providing a more cost-effective way to produce the custom forms.
This material choice addressed the specific problem presented by the revised design. Rather than abandon the architectural concept, Federal Heath offered a fabrication approach that retained its visual character. The signs could still function as substantial, sculptural entrance features without relying on the original concrete construction.
Federal Heath’s scope included engineering, fabrication and installation of both monument signs. Bringing those disciplines together helped translate the custom design into installed signage, connecting the material solution with the finished experience at each facility entrance.
THE RESULT
Branding from Every Perspective
The completed monument signs deliver a strong visual identity at ground level and from above. Their multidimensional construction incorporates the CHRISTUS logo so that the branding can also be viewed from nearby multistory buildings or an aerial perspective.
That elevated viewpoint is a defining feature of the project. The signs were conceived as complete forms, with the organization’s identity integrated into their overall construction. Visitors approaching an entrance and people looking down at the site encounter different perspectives of the same branded structure.
The result balances the desired architectural impact with the project’s maintenance and budget considerations. It demonstrates how a material alternative can preserve a distinctive design while supporting a practical signage solution. Learn more about Federal Heath’s design and engineering, manufacturing and custom signage capabilities.
