Through the past years, big bank corporations have been working to change the impression their branches deliver. They are changing them from larger, faceless corporate environments to more personal, locally focused areas. This can be achieved very effectively by the correct combination of name branding, warmly lit rooms, and casual seating areas.  We have helped many customers to create more personal spaces for banking environments. One example is Washington Business Bank. I-5’s design team took an uninviting atmosphere and created a warm, attractive, comfortable space. Stone veneer columns and illuminated textural resin panels, brought the colors and texture of the outdoors inside and are part of the custom décor package we implemented throughout the new lobby environment. Using a warm color palette which ties into the surrounding geography helps to further the local feel throughout the environment and applying the apple logo gives a nod to local commerce. Seating areas with chairs and couches welcome customers and create an inviting, yet efficient presentation. A custom TV wall and specialty art pieces throughout the space continued the theme and worked together to allow the bank to market its services and create a personal and local feel throughout this business interior. One of the most impressive things about this project was that the bank was able to continue business as normal and the renovation happened over one weekend. On Monday morning when customers came in, a completely different environment met them. Warm brown tones played throughout the space and cheerful apple red light sconces provided appropriate dashes of color on the teller line. This new environment helps Washington Business Bank tell the story of who they are and the level of service their customers can expect. The goal of any renovation is to tell a story. Each day at I-5 we help give our customers’ story a voice.

- Christine W.

One of many things we do here at I-5 Design is retail re-branding and signage change-overs. With our in-house systems our project managers are able to coordinate multiple location projects from start to finish. We are currently in the middle of a signage brand change-over for multiple TCBY locations in North Carolina and Utah. The most recent install was in Salt Lake City and included 3 sets of channel letters and an interior sign that was mounted on a custom wave wall. We were able to work with one of the implementation teams in our nationwide network to provide a seamless project for the owner from permits to installation. The project turned out very well and our customer is very happy.

- Sarah K.

It’s great when you are able to do things right. It’s even better when you are able to do things right and get them done faster than expected. As a CNC router operator for I-5 Design and Manufacture, my goal is to create decor pieces accurately and intelligently. Honestly though, it’s not that hard when you are using a state of the art, computerized router which delivers precision up to the thousandths of an inch. Yes, that’s correct, I said thousandths of an inch. We use the router for creating décor elements out of aluminum, specialty metals, MDF, acrylic, lexan, sintra, and more. With all these materials it’s important that they fit together perfectly, but what’s pretty amazing to me is that with the precision we are also able to be more efficient as well as creative. How? By utilizing software that works in conjunction with the router, we are able to save time on things that before would have required tedious manual adjustments and labor. We also are able to be more creative because this software provides accurate 3D renderings of how the pieces will look before we have even routed into a single sheet of material. Accuracy, efficiency and creativity really can go hand in hand.

Jordan W.

When planning a new restaurant, one of the biggest decisions will be how to create an interior décor plan that reflects the genre of the food being offered while establishing the unique identity of your restaurant. Following are some questions that could help in the design process.

Does the décor accurately reflect the cuisine being offered?

Whether you serve seafood, sushi, steak, or specialize in dishes from specific regions, each will have a different design style that complements the food and is accurate in its representation, meeting the customers’ expectations in creating the right setting for that type of cuisine. Colors and textures, as well as historically accurate architectural forms and lighting styles should all work together to reinforce the impression.

Do the décor and furnishings work with the formality or non-formality of the restaurant?

Formal restaurants are generally more conducive to people experiencing a full course meal and conversation in a leisurely fashion. The seating should therefore be more comfortable and the environment more intimate. Casual dining could have a combination of booths and chairs to promote a comfortable but faster-paced dining experience. The décor usually employs brighter colors, unique lighting, and a more open floor plan to promote this type of atmosphere. Fast-food restaurants typically have non-upholstered seating creating a more streamline environment to promote quicker, in and out service. Your décor style and seating arrangements will be based on the menu and whether it’s formal, casual, fast-food or in between.

Should the decor style be classic, contemporary or something else?

Even if you are serving a very specific type of food from a particular region, you can tie into that style without having to do it in a literal way. There is a contemporary and a classic way to interpret most styles, although today, a more contemporary style usually has longer lasting appeal and will satisfy a broader range of people. For example, an Asian restaurant could be done in a very traditional way using architectural elements such as pagodas, Chinese lanterns, and design elements such as dragons, or, a more contemporary Asian style could be used which emphasizes particular elements such as strong horizontal lines, natural colors and simple shoji screens as room dividers. The latter would appeal to a broader range of consumers and could also coincide for a more modern interpretation of the menu items. I hope these tips help you in choosing the appropriate décor style for your restaurant- A style which establishes the theme that you desire, accomplishing a well done décor plan which will attract new customers and keep your existing customers coming back. Whether you own your own restaurant or are planning one for the future, these are a few simple considerations that will assist you in determining the direction you want to go as you plan your new venue.

Bonnie W.

One of my favorite things about being an installer is our little or no downtime policy on renovation projects. We create scenarios where our customers business can continue as normal while we are renovating their space. A recent example of this was the transformation of a casino buffet environment. This off hours install started late at night and ended early in the morning so buffet operations continued throughout the project. Each evening at closing time we began by marking the position of and moving all the tables and chairs from the eating area. We then covered the salad bar and buffet with plastic and a specially made wood case which prevented debris and dust from falling on them. Plastic adhesive carpet cover was laid down to minimize wear on the floor. After these protective measures were in place each evening the work began.

The first night we removed the existing sheet metal ceiling grid. One crew in scissor lifts disassembled it while the ground crew immediately hauled it out to the recycle bin so nothing was left to clutter the ground. Once the grid work was out of the way, existing sheet rock and steel stud beams were cut and removed to make way for the new ceiling. The existing wood sheeting on the pillars was removed and disposed of.  Once this was complete, we removed our protective measures, cleaned and vacuumed the floor, and returned the tables and chairs to their original positions, removing all signs of the night’s activities before the buffet reopened.

Nights two, three, and four started the same as the first. After necessary arrangements were made, installation began. Aluminum beams covered in specialty wood grain finishes were mounted with spanning beams placed between, to create the beautiful, warm lodge ceiling.  Fire sprinklers and HVAC vents were lowered and moved to meet the new ceiling line at the planned locations. Our masonry team laid stone up the pillars, bringing another natural element inside the buffet, while keeping the area clean as they went. Each morning as we left the worksite, the buffet opened as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, but each opening revealed another piece of the puzzle being assembled in time-lapse progress.

Night five was the final push to the finish line. Starting at one end of the space, the final product came together. Final touches like lighting were wired in, wood ceiling panels were laid in between the beams, custom fabricated mica chandeliers were hung, and the stonework was finished. At the end of the night the installation was complete. After only five nights, the buffet was transformed without ever hindering normal buffet business.

This is one just one example of how we create beautiful upgrades and renovations with little or no downtime to the business. I am proud to have worked on this project and am excited to continue to deliver on our commitment of little or no down time to our customers.

Josiah M.

Installation Team Member

As a painter for I-5 Design and Manufacture, I love finding out about new possibilities with our finishes and paint coatings. One thing I’ve been working on this week is optimizing the color formulas for our tinted clear coats. A tinted clear coat basically uses a small amount of multiple colored toners mixed with a large amount of clear paint. We apply our tinted clear finishes over specialty brushed aluminum panels, which is the reason that it’s so important that we create a perfect ratio of  toners to clear. The photo above illustrates this point. The fun in this comes when we are able to mix a broad range of colors from deep amber to ocean turquoise to royal purple, and do spray outs on our sample pieces. Once the optimal formula has been reached for any of these given colors we are able to save the exact formula in our color database, and retrieve the information at any time in the future. What’s great is, our customers get rich, brilliant colors on their projects and I can reference their color data when subsequent projects occur for exact color matches.

Jordan W

I-5 Design is taking programmable color changing LED lighting and full color message and video displays to the next level. Using state of the art computer and internet technology we are now able to update lighting and video displays remotely, making it possible to easily upload new light programs, video messages, etc. for special events and holidays. I-5 can provide clients with ongoing upgrades that keep their displays fresh and exciting, drawing more customers and getting the most out of their visual displays!

Special thanks to I5 Design & Manufacture team member George S. for this great update.

For many Native American tribal organizations, gaming is big business.  In 2007, 425 tribal casinos in 28 states took in nearly $26 billion in revenue.  But while gaming remains at the core of casino profitability, trends show a significant rise in non-gaming amenities and activities as potent customer attractors. Entry into gaming for tribal organizations has traditionally included bingo halls and stand-alone, day-trip casinos.  But today, many tribes are opting to build gaming establishments linked to destination resort, hospitality, entertainment and retail venues. 

The ongoing challenge for firms that design, remodel and create identities for casinos-- from concept to completion-- is two-fold:  To deliver environments that keep customers gaming more hours, more often, and to create innovative, casino theme-driven amenities and venues that appeal to non-gamers.