Partnership Creates Great College Signage: Heartland Community College

What started as a basic sign plan project over 15 years ago has grown into a true partnership between Latitude Signage + Design and Heartland Community College.

Key Highlights

• Built on trust and creative collaboration, Heartland Community College and Latitude Signage + Design have enjoyed a nearly two-decade-long partnership.

• The Heartland Community College team, which includes Chris Downing - Assoc VP, Development and Community Engagement, Andy Litwiller - Executive Director, Facilities, and Megan Rolfs - Executive Director, Marketing, has relied on Tom Wilcoxen at Latitude for his deep understanding of higher education signage and branding needs. This includes donor recognition and environmental graphics, as well as wayfinding and room identification signage.

• Latitude attends weekly team meetings with the client, acting as a true signage partner for new building projects, major renovations, branding initiatives, donor recognition, and more.

The Beginning of a Signage Partnership

Latitude first connected with Heartland nearly two decades ago. The initial project led to a connection with the facilities department. Latitude helped plan and design a comprehensive interior signage system, including room ID and wayfinding signage, for the new Workforce Development Center. The relationship evolved organically as trust and collaboration grew.

In 2022, the school turned to Latitude to design, plan, fabricate and install all signage for two important projects: the brand-new Agriculture Complex and the State Farm Electric Vehicle Lab. This allowed Latitude to partner with Heartland on more complex, strategic design-build signage projects.

Signage Project Highlights

The Agriculture Complex at Heartland Community College

• This net-zero energy facility features innovative radiant flooring and geothermal systems.

• The comprehensive interior signage system included room IDs, branding, and donor recognition.

• Exterior signage, including monument signs, adds to the campus’s placemaking strategy.

• A large-scale ag history wall graphic was installed using Latitude’s waste-free, sustainable printing technology, Vertigraphics.

• Donor signage reflects the building’s importance while remaining subtle and modern

• The building's function, architecture, and signage work together seamlessly.

Workforce Development Center Renovation

• This recent renovation included the Career Services and Student Engagement offices, as well as an esports arena.

• The signage package provided new storefront branding, donor recognition, wayfinding, and room ID signage.

• A large-scale wall graphic mural designed by students for the Styczynski Family Multicultural Lounge was brought to life using Latitude’s signage expertise.

Vertigraphics | On-Site Digital Printing Technology at Heartland Community College

Classroom Wall Maps

• Large-scale world map graphics were installed in classrooms with Vertigraphics, a sustainable, zero-waste vertical printer.
• The project came about through work by the college’s Committee for Global Education, an advisory board that reviews international curriculum and programs.
• The new maps give teachers the opportunity to broaden their instruction through a global lens.

Agricultural Complex History Mural

• Using historical photos, Latitude designers created a wall graphic with a consistent composition.
• Photos arrived in many different historical picture formats; the design team worked to ensure the highest-resolution images were more prominent and the lower-resolution images were smaller to provide the highest-quality graphics.
• In addition to sizing, the composition was given a similar or complementary sepia tone to bring them all together.

Wayfinding + Experiential Graphics

Collaborated with the Facilities and Marketing teams to create vibrant, branded interior wayfinding signage within and between buildings. This signage design will be used throughout the campus as different renovations take place.

What does a signage partnership like this look like?

Every Friday at 8 a.m., Latitude joins the Heartland team for standing meetings to stay in lockstep on the college’s evolving needs, from branding updates to donor walls, renovations, and new facilities. Latitude has become embedded in Heartland’s internal processes, contributing to projects from the earliest phases to completion.

“I truly feel like part of the team,” said Tom Wilcoxen, business development manager at Latitude. “I’m there whenever they need me.”

Heartland relies on Latitude not just for signage, but for creative guidance, technical planning, and execution from concept to installation. The collaborative nature, responsiveness, and mutual respect make this a true partnership.

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