Trade Partner: Dave Walczak, Walczak Signs, Bath, NY

17 Years Later SLATZ® Stands the Test of Time

When Dave Walczak was asked to create signs for an historic building in downtown Corning New York, he chose a product that would stand the test of time: Slatz.

Here’s why:

DW: Corning Enterprises, in cooperation with the Market Street Restoration Agency, wanted to add a sign system to a landmark, historic, multi-use building. They wanted signage that reflected the historic significance but that offered up-to-date functionality. They also wanted to incorporate wrought iron frames into the concept for the exterior signs.

Dave convinced them to do something else.

DW: Given the environmental conditions in western New York State I knew the steel would rust and they would be unhappy with unwanted maintenance in a couple of years. I recommended tig-welded aluminum finished with automotive paint to achieve the same look. I also recommended Slatz because of its elegance and adaptability.

Why did he think Slatz was the right product to use?

DW: It’s highly adaptable and easy to work with. I also knew it was coming from a dependable company that would be around for along time.

Why did that make a difference?

DW: The building was going to house multiple tenants and we could expect change over time. It was important to be able to offer replacement parts and to have consistent quality. That has proven to be the case over the years since we installed the signs.

Dave used Slatz inside for directories and directionals and outside for building ID and directionals. The colors on the Slatz extrusions were achieved with Clarke Systems’ Colorfix process using vinyl backgrounds and letters.

Would he use it again?

DW: Sure. It’s been 17 years and the signs still look great. It’s a real testimony to the product over time. I’d say I made the right choice.

The community of Corning also agreed. The completed project won a Pan Award for outstanding sign design shortly after they were installed.

What do we at Clarke Systems like about Dave’s work?

CS: We discovered the signs on a vacation stop in Corning, took some photos and set about to track him down when we got home. We were immediately attracted to how beautifully Dave integrated the Slatz system into the historic exterior design as well as the more contemporary interiors. It proves once again that the Slatz system is as fresh today as it was when it led the way in bringing architectural sign systems to the market in the 1970s.