You probably don't know that before Haley purchased AlphaGraphics Kansas City, she and Matt lived in Arvada, CO, and worked for a local AlphaGraphics Franchisee in Denver. We love the transformation that they created for a local Parochial School by updating the school brand and want to share it with you. ----- Since its inception in 1961, generations of students have spent their formative years at the Shrine of St. Anne School in the heart of Arvada, CO. Known for its commitment to academics, athletics, community, tradition, and values, St. Anne’s is beloved by its pupils, alumni, faculty, and staff. While the hometown of Arvada grew, evolved, and thrived over the decades, within St. Anne’s walls, little has changed. Enter AlphaGraphics! They helped the school with a building makeover that created a fresh, modern environment to bolster school spirit, impress prospective students, and reinforce the values that are at the heart of the St. Anne’s experience. [embed]https://youtu.be/nSZdhePRDnM[/embed]
Evaluating the Problems and Needs
The St. Anne’s community is proud of its history and community. They needed some help understanding how to make updates that will work today and help them get ready for the future. Much of the school’s interior had not been updated since the building was completed over 60 years ago. Additionally, St. Anne’s didn’t have an established visual identity with clear use of logos and colors. Several competing versions of its logo were in use, creating a confusing and inconsistent brand. The school brand needed to establish a clear standard to ensure that all signage, digital marketing, and printed materials look the same. Facing shrinking enrollment and growing competition from local private and public schools, St. Anne’s recognized the need to modernize its appearance and solidify its brand. The goal was to ensure that the school’s aesthetics were a match for its proud history and commitment to quality education. School administrators needed a way to modernize the building to boost morale and increase enrollment by making a more positive impression on prospective families.
Building a School Brand and Plan
AlphaGraphics Arvada met with key St. Anne’s decision-makers, including principal Theresa Donahue, to understand the school’s history, challenges, and goals.
- How do the school administrators want people to feel when they toured the school?
- Prioritize the most important elements to be highlighted in the brand?
- What were the main motivations behind the makeover?
The first step was to address the St. Anne’s brand. The team created a brand identity package including a logo for the school incorporating its tagline, “Rooted in Christ, Knowledge, and Tradition.” This would ensure that the school values would be represented in all official materials. A
brand color palette was also defined to help keep the school’s printed materials and interior design looking visually consistent. The top priority for the administration was to make a better impression on prospective families that came to tour the school. AlphaGraphics designers and
signs experts worked on a plan to redesign the lobby and entryway, main stairwell, corridor, and classrooms – all celebrating the history of the school while updating the imagery for a modern look. The makeover was completed in tangent with remodeling the floors, ceilings, and light fixtures then repainting walls and doors.
Wall graphics were installed throughout high-traffic areas, with displays sharing the story of St. Anne’s and honoring the donors who help support the school.
The Result!
[caption id="attachment_2141" align="alignnone" width="925"]
St Anne's Students Celebrate[/caption] The makeover was completed over the summer break. St. Anne's welcomed students back to a fresh, exciting new learning environment. School administrators and teachers quickly noticed a difference in student morale. Students are invigorated and proud of their school. “I just feel better going there,” one student remarked to his father, St. Anne’s alumnus Bob Bell. The difference became even more apparent when fundraising and enrollment efforts kicked off. Although COVID cut attendance in half for the school’s big annual fundraiser, the Crystal Ball, it still brought in double the amount of donations compared to prior years. And by early 2022, there was already a stack of enrollment applications on principal Theresa Donahue’s desk. In prior years, only one or two applications would have been received this early on. “Prospective families are commenting on how good the school looks when they come in for tours,” said Donahue. “People just wouldn’t comment on the building before.” As a parent, Bob Bell put it, “When you walk into our school now, the vision of what we stand for is very tangible. It’s bright, fresh, and clean. Students are proud to invite their families and show off their school.”
Does Your School Need a Makeover?
Many school brands both public and private are in the same position as St. Anne’s once was. Old buildings and outdated decor don’t reflect a school’s high standards when it comes to academics, athletics, and community. With a tight budget, the visual and branding aspects of a school might not seem like a high priority for the administration. A school brand becomes overlooked and can begin to affect other aspects of school business. Morale and enrollment may suffer. When parents are choosing where their kids will prepare for their futures, they’re looking for a school that has a vision for the future and shows pride in its facilities as part of the academic experience. We hope you enjoyed learning about this update as much as the team at AlphaGraphics Kansas City did. Modernizing and refreshing a school’s appearance can create a positive impact that can go beyond the visual aesthetics of the school. It can increase enrollment, satisfaction, and community involvement with the school. To learn more reach out to your AlphaGraphics partner at 816-842-4200.