Whether you’re managing a commercial office building, leasing up a new mixed-use development, or revitalizing a dated property in the loop, the visual experience plays a huge role in attracting and retaining tenants in Chicago's competitive property market. Outdated signage, blank walls, and glare-filled glass don’t just look tired — they send a silent message that your building might be, too.
That’s where modern environmental graphics from Cushing come in. With high-impact wall murals, fresh wayfinding signage, and custom privacy film, you can give any space a strategic refresh that elevates your brand, boosts tenant satisfaction, and even improves leasing velocity. And thanks to advances in large-format printing, these upgrades are more affordable and customizable than ever — helping property managers and developers create spaces that stand out and lease up faster.
SIGNAGE THAT SELLS
- Eye-catching exterior and way-finding signs pull people through the door: nearly 8 in 10 consumers (76 %) say they’ve entered a place they’d never visited before because its signs caught their eye.(newsroom.fedex.com)
- Great design doesn’t just draw visits — it lets owners charge more. A Boston/Cambridge study of 102 Class-A office buildings found that those ranked in the **top tier for architectural design command rents ≈22 % higher than purely “functional” buildings.(emoryeconomicsreview.org)
Take-away for property teams: outdated, sun-faded or inconsistent signage silently discounts your asset. A strategic re-skin with crisp branding, illuminated directories and high-contrast way-finding can lift perceived quality immediately.
WALL MURALS WORK OVERTIME 
Wall murals aren’t just decorative — they’re strategic tools for branding and tenant satisfaction. In today’s office and mixed-use environments, blank corridors and uninspired common areas are missed opportunities. With large-format printing, it's easier than ever to transform those spaces with custom murals that reflect the property’s identity, energize employees, and impress potential tenants.
Research shows that environments enriched with art and visual interest can significantly improve performance and mood. In fact, employees in visually engaging workspaces complete tasks up to 17% faster. Even more compelling: 78% of people say artwork helps reduce stress, while 67% say it improves morale. For property managers, that’s not just a feel-good perk — it’s a leasing advantage. Murals create memorable moments for marketing tours and social media, helping prospects picture themselves in the space. Whether you want to tell the story of the neighborhood, highlight anchor tenants, or simply add life to a lobby, wall graphics are a powerful and cost-effective upgrade.
Plus studies show that bringing biophilic elements into wall graphics, privacy film patterns or lobby signage isn’t just on-trend — it’s profitable:
- Properties that integrate natural materials or views see tenant retention rise 10-15 % and lease 20 % faster.(smartplanninganddesign.com)
- Eco-certified buildings with visible biophilic touches enjoy 7-10 % higher appraised values.(smartplanninganddesign.com)
PRIVACY AND PERFORMANCE
Glass film ticks three boxes at once: aesthetics, comfort, and operating‐cost reduction.
- Energy savings: Studies show the right commercial window film can cut HVAC energy use by up to 30 %.(buildings.com)
- Thermal comfort case study: At 25 South Charles Street in Baltimore, a retrofit film rejected 79 % of solar heat and trimmed electricity bills by 10 % while improving tenant comfort.(benchmarkingbuildings.com)
- UV protection & branding: Premium films block up to 99 % of UV and can carry subtle etched-glass graphics that double as privacy and way-finding.
Cushing’s wide-format experts design, print and install end-to-end solutions — from lobby murals and illuminated monument signs to branded glass films — all under one roof. Let’s schedule a walk-through and uncover quick wins for your next vacancy.