Golden View Classical Academy's New Monument Sign Installation

The customer and goal

Golden View Classical Academy is a K-12 public charter school in Golden, Colorado. The school came to Signdealz in February 2026 for a new monument sign. They had a logo but no sign design yet. In their words: "We do not have a design but we do have a logo and could design one if that is called for."

The project: a monument sign carrying the school's name and crest, with a Watchfire LED message display, built to a design the school approved.

What we built

• Monument sign: a single-face monument sign built to the customer-approved design.
• LED message display: a 10 mm single-face RGB LED display with a 3' x 7' viewing area and 4G cellular communication. Training on the display was included.
• Structure: a 5" standard steel pipe set on a footing foundation. Engineering covered the structure, the attachment method and wind load.
• Masonry: a stacked-stone base, supplied and installed as part of the project.
• Site survey: an on-site technical survey before production.

Challenges

Permitting jurisdiction. As a public charter school project, the permit had to go through the state of Colorado rather than the city.

Underground utilities. On September 15, 2026, utility locates found underground utilities at the monument site.

Working around a school in session. Excavation, concrete, structure, and masonry all had to happen at an active K-12 campus without getting in the way of students and staff.

Foundation and inspection. The footing design needed adjustments to suit the site, and it still had to pass inspection before the build could continue.

How Signdealz handled it

• Permits: Because Golden View is a public charter school, the sign required a State of Colorado permit. 
• Utilities: The crew worked around the underground utilities found during locates.
• School schedule: Signdealz  kept the school updated on the timeline and offered to do the work after hours so crews would be completely out of the way. The principal reviewed the install schedule with us, including the timing of the masonry work.
• Foundation: the footing design was adjusted in late July. We poured concrete in mid-September and coordinated the required footing inspection.

Result

The installer reported the sign complete on September 30, 2026, and the school replied the same morning:

"It looks great!" — Golden View Classical Academy, September 30, 2026

The LED display is not lit yet. The next steps are the final electrical hookup by the school's electrician, then the final inspection.

FAQ

Do monument signs need a permit in Golden, Colorado?

This one did. Golden View is a public charter school, and in Colorado, building permits and inspections for public and charter schools go through the state Division of Fire Prevention and Control, which can delegate them to an approved local building department, so this sign was permitted through the state. For most other properties in Golden, permanent signs need a City of Golden building permit under Chapter 18.32 of the Municipal Code, and lighted signs also need an electrical permit.

How long does a school monument sign project take?

For this project, about five months passed between approval on May 1, 2026, and installation on September 30, 2026. That included about four weeks of state permit review, engineering, a footing adjustment and LED display lead time. Timelines vary with jurisdiction, site conditions, and equipment lead times.

What happens if underground utilities are in the way of a new sign?

In Colorado, it's the law: you must contact Colorado 811 at least two business days before digging, not counting the day you call, and marks are good for no more than 30 days after the locate due date. Colorado 811 doesn't mark privately owned lines, so you may also need a private locator. On this project, the crew worked around the underground utilities found during locates.

Can a monument sign include an LED message display?

Yes, within limits. Golden's sign code allows LED message displays only on monument or freestanding signs; each message must hold at least eight seconds, brightness is capped and must dim automatically, and flashing, video and animation aren't allowed. The displays also aren't permitted downtown or within 300 feet of a state or federal highway.

About Signdealz

Signdealz is a Denver-based sign brokerage and project-management company serving Colorado, Arizona, and Texas. We handle design, permitting, fabrication, and installation through a network of qualified partners.

Planning a new sign? Get a quote from Signdealz.