The WELCOME Sign
CLIENT
Morris Adjmi Architects (MA)
CIM Group
ROLE
Creative Direction
with Lyle Starr & Morris Adjmi
DETAILS
This 80-foot long illuminated sculpture was approved by the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals to replace the Jehova’s Witness sign which loomed over the east river from 1969-2017. The subtle turn of language from WATCHTOWER to WELCOME flips the message beaming beside the Brooklyn Bridge from one of foreboding to one of gratitude.
DATE
Fall 2019
Since 1969, the iconic WATCHTOWER sign atop the Jehovah’s Witness headquarters was an imposing presence beside the Brooklyn Bridge. When the Church sold the property in 2017 they took their sign with them.
From 2017-2019, only an empty scaffold stood atop that building.
In the Fall of 2018, our team’s artwork - an invitation across the East River - won approval from members of the community and the New York Board of Standards and Appeals.
In the Fall of 2018, our team’s artwork - an invitation across the East River - won approval from members of the community and the New York Board of Standards and Appeals.
On Thanksgiving Day 2019, the WELCOME sign was powered on for the first time. It is among the largest illuminated signs on the East Coast.
We made it onto the New York Magazine Approval Matrix. Follow the development of WELCOME on my instagram highlight.
I made some WELCOME swag for the lighting ceremony. All sold out.
Scale model sculpture by Drew Leshko commissioned by MA.
