XAVIER UNIVERSITY
ADA signage • wayfinding
halo-lit channel letters • large format printing
the client
Xavier University of Louisiana is a nationally recognized HBCU and the only historically Black Catholic university in the U.S., located in the heart of New Orleans. Known for academic excellence in the sciences, health professions, and liberal arts, Xavier consistently leads in producing African American graduates who pursue careers in medicine and STEM fields. Its growing campus blends historic architecture with modern facilities, reinforcing a strong university brand presence in the Gulf South.
the project
As part of the multi-million-dollar renovation of Xavier University’s Living Learning Center in New Orleans, OPA was engaged by VPG Construction and Gibbs Construction to lead the design, fabrication, and installation of the campus’ largest placemaking signage to date: a building-spanning, halo-illuminated golden channel letter set.
Conceived as the visual focal point of the entire project, the sign was intended to serve as a landmark identifier visible from across the city and the adjacent interstate. Balancing scale and sophistication, the oversized illuminated channel letters were designed to be unmistakably bold while seamlessly integrated into the newly constructed architectural accent parapet.
our challenge
Large vertical letter sets present significant design and execution challenges, especially from an aesthetic standpoint.
Perfecting kerning and alignment in a vertical layout is critical; simply centering letterforms may be mechanically accurate but can read as visually awkward. Uniform spacing between letters without compensating for individual character shapes often creates imbalance, a flaw that becomes even more pronounced in halo-lit channel letters at night when illumination highlights inconsistencies.
Fortunately, OPA was engaged early in the project, before the parapet was clad in its now-signature obsidian panel system.
Collaborating closely with Gibbs Construction and VPG Construction, our team developed a precise letterform layout map that refined spacing, optical alignment, and coordinated architectural panel seam placement. This proactive collaboration and planning allowed us to pre-drill all attachment points and electrical pass-through locations during early parapet development, streamlining fieldwork and completing the final illuminated signage installation in a single day.
The project was expanded to leverage OPA for matching interior finishes, such as gold-painted wayfinding signage, ADA-compliant room markets, and a large-format printed art installation.
Xavier letterset map, featuring OPA-corrected letter layout and OPA-proposed seam map for obsidian ACM paneling
solution
Working from clearly defined brand standards and architectural finish specifications, our team engineered and fabricated a gargantuan custom channel letter set designed to anchor the building façade. The illuminated letterforms were precision-built to meet structural, electrical, and wind-load requirements while aligning seamlessly with the university’s established aesthetic.
The result is a high-impact, architecturally integrated university signage installation that strengthens campus branding and elevates Xavier’s presence on the New Orleans skyline.