AUDUBON AQUARIUM
“The perfect capstone on a multi-year renovation project”
— Audubon Aquarium
halo-lit lettering • installation
fabricated signage
the client
Audubon Aquarium is a well-established New Orleans riverfront attraction that combines large-scale marine exhibits with education-focused design to serve both locals and visitors.
The campus underwent a major renovation and expansion 2022-2023, adding new exhibit space, interactive areas, relocated entrances, and the integration of the Audubon Insectarium. This project was part of a broader effort to re-envision the Mississippi Riverfront and strengthen the aquarium’s role as a central cultural and educational destination.
the project
OPA Signs & Graphics was selected to design, fabricate, and install the primary building identification signage for the newly renovated Audubon Aquarium & Insectarium. Four sky-high, larger-than-life lettersets were engineered to anchor the building visually, clearly visible to passersby along the Mississippi River and across the New Orleans skyline. Halo-illuminated letterforms were chosen not for flash, but for presence, delivering depth, legibility, and a strong civic identity while respecting the site’s environmental and architectural context.
our challenge
Delivering halo-illuminated architectural signage in this environment required precision, adaptability, and close collaboration across disciplines:
Cross-team coordination: OPA worked closely with Broadmoor Construction, project architects, and Audubon stakeholders, making clear communication essential to align schedules, design intent, and installation sequencing.
Concurrent construction elements: Signage planning and fabrication occurred alongside the execution of a building-spanning mural, requiring exact placement and tolerance control to avoid visual or physical conflict.
Day and night performance: The sign was engineered to create depth through shadow and halo illumination while maintaining crisp legibility in both daylight and nighttime conditions.
Challenging installation conditions: Installation was completed along the Mississippi Riverfront in high-wind conditions using an extended lift, demanding careful staging and safety planning.
Infrastructure integration: OPA retrofitted new electrical and mechanical connections into an existing building, ensuring modern performance without compromising the structure.
solution
The result is a permanent, architectural placemaking sign that reinforces the Aquarium’s presence on the riverfront, executed through expert sign design, fabrication, and installation by a full-service signage partner experienced in complex commercial and civic projects.