Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable

Whipsnade Zoo is the largest zoo in the UK and as part of their ongoing site development; they recently launched a new main entrance, shop, ticket office, café and toilets. John Anthony Signs worked closely with a design house to develop the designs technically to ensure a long lasting, fit for purpose solution for each of the sign locations. Whilst all of these signs required development, the main focus was to come up with a robust solution for the main Whipsnade zoo sign. This sign is located at low level and as a result, expected to be climbed upon by children and adults of all ages. With this in mind, John Anthony Signs had to specify 50mm solid aluminium letters for the small header letters and 5mm thick aluminium, with 10mm thick inner strengthening plates, for the large zoo letters, to ensure that the sign could withstand the rigours of effectively being a climbing frame rather than a sign! John Anthony Signs also completed illuminated letters throughout the new building to denote new departments, menu boxes, large format graphics and manifestation lines which took on the form of a family of elephants. The project was a great success.