Downing Construction

High-End Signage Scales New Heights for Urban Student Living

A collage of The Fernley Downing Living reception area.

The Challenge

Downing Construction, a leading UK property investment and development company with more than 35 years of experience, faced a critical delay when an international supplier fell weeks behind schedule, on two Manchester student apartment living spaces. With building control examinations looming, they needed an immediate solution to provide rapid-response temporary signage to meet legal requirements, while providing the technical expertise to handle a massive, high-specification permanent installation for the next phase of development.

An image of the window graphics for the apartments.

The Solution

FASTSIGNS® Manchester first delivered a rapid-turnaround installation of temporary vinyl wayfinding, to ensure the buildings passed inspection. Following this success, FASTSIGNS Manchester was commissioned for a permanent signage installation of the next block, featuring over 1,000 "high-end" signs, to reinforce the level of luxury and easily guide tenants and visitors. The visuals included double-laminated medium-density fiberboard, high-end hardware laminate (more resistant to fading and chipping), and laser-cut brushed gold lettering to match the luxury finish of the modern residence.

A collage of the Game Lounge and The Fernley foyer.

To create a premier first impression, the team also engineered a bespoke reception feature: a tubular acrylic light fitting suspended by a steel structure with warm white LEDs. To further enhance the luxurious space, a 30mm painted acrylic lettering sign was seamlessly mounted onto a custom marble curtain wall. This required coordination with stone manufacturers to pre-drill fixing templates before the marble was installed on-site, ensuring a flawless finish.

The Result

The project transformed the blocks into sophisticated, easy-to-navigate hubs. The scale of the 1,000+ sign installation showcased FASTSIGNS Manchester’s ability to manage complex, high-value projects under pressure. Quantity Surveyor at Downing Construction, Andrew Horsfield, noted: “FASTSIGNS Manchester is incredibly reliable and always delivers great results. They consistently get the job done to a high standard. We can always rely on them for quality work and timely service.”

A collage of the different wayfinding signage around the apartments.

This project was completed by FASTSIGNS® Manchester.