Gulf Coast Bank
“Their outstanding design, product quality, attention to detail, and collaborative mindset make them my most trusted partner.”
— Mike Johnson, EskewDumezRipple+
channel letters • frosted windows
custom architectural fixtures
ADA signage • fabricated wayfinding • large format printing
the client
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust delivers hometown service and regional strength, with trusted local bankers, smart lending, and modern digital tools helping businesses and families grow across South Louisiana.
Their branding strikes a balance between approachable and professional: often playful and color-forward, yet grounded in reliability and trust. OPA’s past work emphasized brushed metal and expansive frosted glass, accented with precise pops of vibrant teal and orange.
the project
When Gulf Coast Bank set out to build its new Elmwood location, it wasn’t just adding another branch. It was making a statement. Architects at EskewDumezRipple+ designed a striking oval structure of steel, plywood, and glass, crowned with a sweeping roofline that echoed the rhythm of Gulf Coast waves.
The buildout required two primary identification signs, parking lot wayfinding, custom trim to establish a wave motif, decorative window film, and interior graphics, all while preserving the building’s architectural rhythm.
Bold and modern, the building raised a crucial question: how do you add signage without making it feel commercial or ordinary? Gulf Coast Bank wanted graphics that felt intrinsic to the architecture and spoke the same design language.
our challenge
This wasn’t a standard brick façade ready for off-the-shelf letters and panels. Every surface curved. Every material was deliberate. The signage needed to:
Wrap naturally along a curved façade
Feel architectural, not promotional
Reinforce the bank’s coastal identity
Function seamlessly inside and out
Integrate with steel ribs, glass walls, and open interiors
our approach
The process unfolded in three deliberate stages:
Concept & Integration OPA created design concepts and material palettes that aligned with the steel, glass, and coastal aesthetic of the structure.
Permitting & Coordination OPA Signs & Graphics produced the technical drawings required for parish permitting and coordinated closely with the contractor.
Precision Fabrication Every component was engineered in-house, with production plans tailored to the building’s curves, ribs, and surfaces.
solution
OPA designed, fabricated and installed a fully integrated graphic environment:
Channel letter identity signs designed to follow the building’s curved façade powered by the on-site solar system
Custom metal wave trim mounted to the standing-seam roof panels, extending the coastal theme into the building envelope
Precision-cut 3M window film in flowing wave patterns across expansive glass walls
Interior, ADA-compliant signage that matched the architectural tone
Custom digital landscape imagery printed on brushed anodized metal, connecting interior spaces to exterior materials
Every element was intentional. Every detail reinforced the building’s story