Office signs are easiest to get right while the walls are still open.
Office sign planning works best during the fit out, not after the furniture arrives. Once walls are closed and painted, a lit reception logo has no power, a heavy sign has nothing solid to fix to, and room signs end up wherever there is space rather than where the codes and visitors need them.
This guide is for owners, office managers and project teams planning interior signs for a new office, a renovation or a commercial building, from office towers that need Fort Lee office signs to campuses planning Princeton corporate signage. For how the finished office should work day to day for visitors and staff, see our guide to planning office signage for employees and visitors.
What a Typical Office Sign Package Includes
| Sign | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reception logo | Wall behind the front desk | Dimensional letters or a standoff panel, sometimes lit |
| Suite and tenant signs | Corridor entrance to the office | Matches the building’s standard in multi tenant buildings |
| Room identification | Offices, meeting rooms, restrooms | Tactile and braille for permanent rooms |
| Directional signs | Corridor splits | Needed in larger floors |
| Glass film | Glass walls and doors | Visibility bands, privacy and branding |
| Code signs | Stairs, elevators, exits | Often supplied by the building, check first |
Start With a Sign Schedule
A sign schedule is a simple list of every sign, with its location on the floor plan, type, size, wording and mounting. It turns a vague request for “office signs” into something that can be priced accurately, reviewed by the team and checked at installation. It also becomes the reference for future changes.
Mark each sign on the plan, then walk the space with the plan before finalizing, because door swings, light switches and furniture often move sign positions.
Coordinate With the Build
Blocking in the Walls
Large dimensional logos, heavy panels and projecting signs need solid backing. Ask the contractor to add blocking behind drywall at the planned locations before the walls are closed, so the sign can be fixed securely without visible patches later.
Power for Lit Signs
A lit reception logo or light box needs a power point behind or near it, ideally on a switched or timed circuit. Plan this with the electrician during rough in, because adding it after the finishes are done means opening walls.
Glass and Finishes
Glass film is applied after the glass is installed and cleaned, and wall graphics go on after paint has fully cured. Agree these dates with the contractor so the signs are not the last thing squeezed in before move in.
Room Signs and the ADA Standards
Signs that identify permanent rooms, such as offices, meeting rooms, restrooms and stairs, must have raised characters and braille under the 2010 ADA Standards. They are usually mounted beside the door on the latch side at a set height, so the plan should show which side each door opens. The Access Board’s guide to signs explains the mounting rules clearly.
Ordering room signs in the same family as the rest of the office keeps them from looking like an afterthought. See our ADA Signs page for styles, and our guide to ADA sign requirements for businesses for the details.
Glass Film for Privacy and Safety
Glass offices and meeting rooms usually need a band of frosted film at eye level so people do not walk into the glass, and fuller frosting where privacy matters. A logo or pattern cut into the frost turns a practical requirement into part of the brand. See our Window Frosting page for patterns and coverage options.
Multi Tenant Buildings
In a shared building, the landlord usually sets the standard for suite signs, corridor directories and the lobby directory. Ask for the building’s sign criteria before designing anything that faces a common area, and keep your brand for the inside of your own suite. Our guide on property management tenant signage guidelines explains what those criteria usually cover.
Materials That Suit the Space
Acrylic, brushed metal and dimensional letters suit reception areas. Room signs are often acrylic or photopolymer for the tactile characters, with changeable inserts for names that change. Choose materials that match the interior finishes, and pick one family so the lobby, corridors and rooms read as one office. See our Lobby Signs page for reception options.
Common Questions About Office Sign Planning
When should office signs be planned?
During design or early in the fit out. That leaves time for blocking in walls, power for lit signs and coordination with glass and paint.
What is a sign schedule?
A list of every sign with its location, type, size, wording and mounting. It makes pricing, review and installation far more accurate.
Do office room signs need braille?
Signs for permanent rooms do. Offices, meeting rooms, restrooms and stairs need raised characters and braille under the ADA Standards.
Do I need blocking for a reception logo?
For large or heavy logos, yes. Solid backing behind the drywall lets the sign be fixed securely and avoids repairs later.
Who supplies stair and exit signs?
Often the building or the general contractor, as part of the base building work. Confirm early so nothing is duplicated or missed.
Can glass frosting include our logo?
Yes. Logos, patterns and text can be cut into frosted film, which gives privacy and visibility while carrying the brand.
Office Signs Planned With the Build
Gogi Signs works with owners, office managers and contractors across New Jersey and New York City to plan, fabricate and install office sign packages, from the reception logo to the last room sign.
See our Office Signs page, then request a free quote with your floor plan.
