Quality Site Hoarding at Westminster Abbey, is a great example of how quality site hoarding can improve the appearance of a construction area while also creating an attractive and informative display for visitors.
Project Print Management was commissioned to design, print and install approximately 65 linear metres of printed hoarding at Westminster Abbey in central London. Working at such an iconic location made this a particularly enjoyable project, but it also meant that the finished graphics had to meet a very high visual standard.
A well-designed quality site hoarding does much more than simply cover the plywood or temporary fencing surrounding construction work. It changes the way the public sees the site, helping to create a cleaner, more professional appearance while providing valuable space for branding, information, photography or creative artwork.
Why Quality Site Hoarding Matters
Construction hoarding is commonly installed around building and refurbishment projects to separate the public from working areas. While the underlying hoarding performs an important practical and safety function, untreated plywood panels are rarely attractive.
Printed site hoarding provides an opportunity to transform these temporary structures into something much more visually appealing.
At Westminster Abbey, the hoarding needed to reflect the importance and character of the location. Thousands of visitors, tourists, school groups and members of the public pass through the area, so the graphics had to look professional while remaining clear and easy to understand.
The objective was to create a quality site hoarding installation that complemented the Abbey rather than distracting from it.
Designing Site Hoarding for Westminster Abbey
One of the biggest challenges was working within Westminster Abbey’s established brand guidelines.
The design needed to maintain the Abbey’s visual identity while also working effectively across a long run of construction hoarding. Too much text would have made the panels difficult to read, particularly for visitors walking past the site.
Working alongside the Abbey’s official photographer, we selected a series of high-quality images designed to appeal to a wide audience.
Visitors to Westminster Abbey come from all over the world, and school groups are also regular visitors, so we deliberately kept the design simple and visually led. Strong photography and carefully positioned branding created an effective display without relying on excessive copy.
This approach allowed the hoarding to become part of the visitor experience while still performing its primary purpose of screening the construction works behind it.
High-Resolution Printed Hoarding Panels
Once the artwork had been approved, the graphics were produced using high-resolution digital printing.
The prints were then laminated with an anti-graffiti protective film before being mounted onto aluminium composite panels, often referred to as ACM or Dibond.
Aluminium composite panel is an excellent material for quality site hoarding because it provides a smooth, rigid surface for printed graphics. It is also suitable for external environments and helps maintain a clean, professional appearance over the duration of a project.
The anti-graffiti laminate provides an additional layer of protection. This can make the surface easier to clean while helping protect the printed graphics from everyday marks, dirt and minor vandalism.
Approximately 65 linear metres of printed hoarding were installed at Westminster Abbey over two days.
Turning Construction Hoarding into Valuable Display Space
One of the biggest advantages of printed hoarding is the amount of highly visible space it provides.
Construction projects are often located in busy areas with significant pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Instead of leaving temporary hoarding blank, printed graphics can transform the perimeter into a communication or branding opportunity.
Site hoarding graphics can be used for:
- Project information and development updates
- Architectural visuals and CGI images
- Corporate branding
- Historical information
- Public artwork
- Directional information
- Community engagement
- Advertising and promotional campaigns
- Photography and decorative graphics
The design can be adapted depending on the location and purpose of the project.
For a heritage location such as Westminster Abbey, the emphasis may be on photography and visual quality. On a commercial development, the hoarding might instead promote the finished property, developer or businesses associated with the project.
Site Hoarding as an Advertising Opportunity
In suitable locations, construction hoarding can also provide valuable advertising space.
Large hoarding panels positioned along busy streets can achieve considerable visibility. Developers, retailers and contractors can use the space to promote their own businesses, display project information or potentially provide advertising space for third parties where appropriate.
The key is good design.
Simply filling every available panel with text or advertising can reduce the impact of the overall installation. Successful quality site hoarding should be easy to understand from a distance and designed around the environment in which it will be viewed.
Strong imagery, clear messaging and consistent branding generally produce a much more professional result.
Quality Site Hoarding from Project Print Management
At Project Print Management, we provide a complete service for printed construction hoarding, including artwork preparation, printing, protective laminates, panel production and installation.
Every project is different, so the specification can be adapted depending on the location, duration, design requirements and condition of the existing hoarding.
Whether the requirement is a short-term construction screen, a major development perimeter or decorative hoarding for a high-profile London location, printed panels can dramatically improve the appearance of a working construction site.
The Westminster Abbey project demonstrates how quality site hoarding can combine practical site screening with high-quality design.
By using carefully selected photography, high-resolution printing, aluminium composite panels and anti-graffiti protection, we were able to create a professional installation that suited one of London’s most recognisable landmarks while effectively screening the construction work taking place behind it.
If you want more information on site hoardings please contact Project Print Management.
