Broadcasting

In the Spotlight: Dodge-Chrome Places 11-Story “Downton Abbey” Mural on PBS Headquarters Building

Guest ColumnistJanuary 6, 20151 min read

Three workers balanced on an eighteen-inch-wide platform for almost four days in rain, snow and wind last month, placing 315 pieces of a vinyl puzzle depicting Downton Abbey’s “Lady Mary” character on the PBS headquarters building in Arlington, Va.

The temporary, 11-story-high vinyl mural – 54.5 foot by 90 – was installed by Dodge-Chrome Inc., a metro D.C. imaging company. Dodge-Chrome CEO Carol Boyd said project partners Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID), PBS and Vornado/Charles E. Smith had envisioned hanging a large mesh banner from the building in celebration of the January 4 premiere of the fifth season of the popular PBS series, but Dodge-Chrome recommended a combination of perforated and solid vinyl instead to eliminate structural hardware requirements, and so building occupants could more easily see out of their windows.

The installation required 315 pieces of vinyl to be numbered and the top left corner identified on each. The material for building wraps must be installed in temperatures above 40 degrees. Keeping a keen eye on the forecast and printing around the clock, the installation team was able to meet the PBS Dec. 12 deadline despite inclement weather.

Guest Columnist

Capitol Communicator and sponsors host various guest postings on topics of interest to the advertising, marketing, public relations and media professional community that Capitol Communicator serves.