California State University, Fullerton, CA

California State University, Fullerton has the largest student enrollment in the 23-campus California State University system. The main campus, located along the 57 Freeway in Fullerton, encompasses 110 permanent buildings serving the university’s 41,000 students.

Cal State Fullerton’s signage along the busy 57 Freeway included a small, monochrome digital display atop a very tall pole. The sign’s size and height made it difficult to read by passing motorists, and its low resolution limited the kinds of messages they could display.

After updating the school logo, administrators decided to replace the sign with a larger, more modern digital display. They enlisted the help of Encore Image, of Ontario, Calif., to design and replace the aging sign. Encore Image designed a black cabinet with an internally illuminated logo atop a square pole. The sign features back-to-back digital signs from Watchfire Signs. Drive-by tests were conducted to determine the optimal height for the sign to enhance readability along the busy corridor.

Encore Image specified Watchfire Signs for the digital displays because of the company’s product reliability and customer service. “Watchfire is all we use because the products and customer support are great,” said Kelly Quirarte, LED School Sign Specialist, at Encore Image. “Watchfire takes painstaking measures to ensure that signs are perfect before they leave the factory, so we know that they will work flawlessly.”

The new sign is an important channel for advertising messages about campus and sporting events, and highlighting other features of the campus, including programming at the famous Fullerton Arboretum, a 26-acre botanical garden open to students and the public. Messages are easily designed and scheduled in-house by the university’s IT department using Watchfire’s Ignite OPx software.

“Our new sign’s graphic display looks awesome, and it has significantly improved Cal State Fullerton’s ability to advertise campus events to thousands of people every day,” said John Spencer, Capital Programs & Facilities Management, at Cal State Fullerton.

Faculty and coaches alike have praised the new sign. “Cal State Fullerton is known for its Titans baseball team, and the sign is a great way to keep the community updated about the season,” said Quirarte.

Free eBook: 10 Things to Know Before You Buy an LED Sign

Learn the 10 key facts every LED sign buyer should know.

8 Reasons to Make the Switch

Upgrade your campus signage software to a new advanced digital platform.