Holy Cross High School Wall Graphics Makeover

Introduction

Holy Cross High School in Flushing, New York, has a long tradition of athletic and academic excellence. As the school prepared for a new chapter—including welcoming female students for the first time—administrators wanted their facilities to better reflect that legacy and inspire future generations.

One overlooked hallway near the school's basement basketball court had become a visual dead zone, lined with long-unused lockers that no longer served a purpose. Rather than allowing the space to detract from an otherwise beautiful campus, Holy Cross partnered with BIGSIGNS to transform it into Legends Hall using the WonderWall™ Fabric Wall Graphics System.

The result was a dramatic environmental branding project that celebrated the school's history, strengthened recruiting efforts, and created one of the most memorable spaces on campus.

The Challenge

When Keith Goggin became Athletic Director in 2016, he immediately identified an opportunity to improve one of the school's most visible interior spaces.

A hallway adjacent to the basketball court stretched more than 120 feet in each direction, but instead of showcasing the school's accomplishments, it concealed rows of obsolete lockers that had been permanently closed after enrollment changes. Newer, smaller lockers had been installed elsewhere, leaving the original lockers unused and hidden behind temporary coverings.

Although framed photographs and jerseys honoring Division I and professional alumni occupied one section of the hallway, the remainder felt empty and disconnected from Holy Cross's proud athletic tradition.

As the athletic director responsible for recruiting prospective student-athletes, Goggin believed the hallway should leave a lasting first impression rather than becoming an area visitors simply passed through.

He also recognized another opportunity. Athletic logos used throughout campus lacked consistency, prompting the school to pursue a softer redesign with a cleaner, more unified identity.

The goal was not simply to improve the appearance of the hallway. Holy Cross wanted to create an experience that celebrated its history, strengthened school pride, supported recruiting, and established a consistent athletic brand for future generations.

The BIGSIGNS Solution

After evaluating several companies, Holy Cross High School selected BIGSIGNS to develop a comprehensive environmental graphics solution that would completely reimagine the forgotten hallway.

The centerpiece of the project became WonderWall™ Fabric Wall Graphics System, allowing the school to transform more than 120 feet of corridor on both sides into an immersive storytelling environment.

Rather than highlighting only individual accomplishments, the design celebrated the broader history of Holy Cross athletics. Floor-to-ceiling graphics showcased historic newspaper photography, action images from memorable athletic moments, updated school logos, and visual elements that connected decades of Cardinal athletics into one cohesive experience.

The hallway also featured displays recognizing former student-athletes who advanced to Division I and professional competition. Jerseys were paired with graduation years, sports, and jersey numbers, preserving the legacy of alumni while inspiring current students.

Beyond Legends Hall, BIGSIGNS also created a custom press conference backdrop where student-athletes sign National Letters of Intent. The branded backdrop provides a professional setting for photographs and social media announcements while reinforcing Holy Cross branding during milestone events.

BIGSIGNS did not renovate or reconstruct the building itself. Instead, the company enhanced the existing facility through custom environmental graphics that transformed an underutilized corridor into one of the school's signature athletic spaces.

Products Used

The Holy Cross High School branding project included:

  • WonderWall™ Fabric Wall Graphics System

Additional custom branding included a press conference backdrop for signing ceremonies and athletic recognition events.

Project Highlights

  • Legends Hall environmental branding project

  • More than 120 feet of wall graphics on both sides of the hallway

  • Floor-to-ceiling historical athletic imagery

  • Updated Holy Cross athletic logo integration

  • Alumni recognition displays

  • Division I and professional athlete showcases

  • Press conference backdrop for signing ceremonies

  • Recruiting-focused facility enhancement

  • Athletic history and school tradition celebrated through graphics

  • Branding supporting the school's next chapter

The Results

Legends Hall completely changed the way visitors experienced Holy Cross High School athletics.

Instead of walking through an overlooked corridor with hidden unused lockers, prospective students and families entered an immersive space celebrating decades of athletic achievement.

The hallway quickly became the starting point for athletic recruiting tours.

Goggin developed a memorable tradition when guiding prospective student-athletes through the space. Standing in front of a large mirror surrounded by the graphics, he asks each group:

"How many of you want to be up on these walls?"

According to Goggin, every student raises a hand.

The project transformed the hallway into far more than a display of past accomplishments. It became a recruiting tool that encourages prospective students to imagine becoming part of Holy Cross history.

The environmental graphics also strengthened branding throughout the school by introducing a cleaner, more consistent athletic identity.

Another important addition was the custom press conference backdrop, which provides a professional setting for signing ceremonies and creates branded photography that can be shared across social media.

The quality of the finished installation also exceeded expectations.

A member of the Holy Cross Board of Directors with previous experience as both a university chancellor and college president visited the completed project and described the installation as first-class—surpassing what many colleges had achieved.

As Holy Cross prepared to welcome female students for the first time, Legends Hall also represented the school's future.

The space now tells the story of athletic and academic excellence while helping inspire every new generation of student-athletes who walks its halls.

Lessons Learned

Identify Hidden Opportunities

Some of the best branding opportunities are found in overlooked spaces.

Unused hallways, outdated walls, storage areas, and underutilized corridors can often become high-impact environments without requiring major construction.

Turn School History Into an Experience

Holy Cross did more than display photographs.

The graphics created a narrative that celebrated generations of student-athletes while helping prospective students imagine becoming part of that tradition.

Schools should think beyond decoration and focus on telling their unique story.

Support Recruiting Through Facility Branding

Athletic facilities play an important role in recruiting.

Creating memorable environments that communicate tradition, success, and school pride can help prospective students form an emotional connection with a program before they ever compete.

Create Consistent Branding

The project also provided an opportunity to introduce a cleaner, more unified athletic logo throughout campus.

Facility improvements are often an ideal time to evaluate logos, colors, typography, and overall visual consistency.

Think Beyond the Main Installation

The custom signing-day backdrop demonstrated how complementary branding elements can extend the impact of a project.

Media backdrops, hallway graphics, locker rooms, gyms, and athletic entrances can all work together to create a consistent athletic identity.

Celebrate Alumni Success

Recognizing former student-athletes helps reinforce a school's tradition while providing current students with visible examples of future possibilities.

Incorporating alumni recognition into facility graphics can strengthen school pride and create meaningful connections across generations.

Plan for the Future

Legends Hall celebrated Holy Cross's history while supporting an important transition as the school prepared to welcome female students.

Effective facility branding should not only honor the past but also help communicate the future direction of an organization.

Why WonderWall™ Fabric Wall Graphics System?

Large interior walls offer some of the most valuable branding opportunities in an athletic facility.

WonderWall™ Fabric Wall Graphics System transforms ordinary corridors, locker rooms, gymnasiums, athletic entrances, and common spaces into immersive visual environments that communicate school pride and athletic culture.

WonderWall™ helps organizations:

  • Create dramatic floor-to-ceiling graphics

  • Celebrate school history and achievements

  • Reinforce logos, colors, and athletic identity

  • Support recruiting and campus tours

  • Improve first impressions

  • Showcase alumni and championship traditions

  • Create engaging storytelling environments

  • Refresh facilities without major construction

For Holy Cross High School, WonderWall™ transformed an overlooked hallway into one of the school's most powerful recruiting and branding assets.

Why BIGSIGNS?

BIGSIGNS partners with schools, colleges, universities, parks departments, and athletic organizations nationwide to create custom facility branding solutions that strengthen identity and elevate the student-athlete experience.

From environmental wall graphics and locker rooms to stadium branding, gym graphics, dugout wraps, scoreboards, and campus-wide branding programs, BIGSIGNS combines award-winning design, premium materials, custom manufacturing, and collaborative project management to deliver exceptional results.

At Holy Cross High School, BIGSIGNS helped transform an overlooked corridor into Legends Hall—a space that celebrates tradition, inspires future athletes, and creates a lasting first impression for every visitor.

Ready to Transform Your Facility?

Every athletic facility has spaces with untapped potential.

Whether you're reimagining an outdated hallway, enhancing a locker room, refreshing a gymnasium, or creating a campus-wide branding program, BIGSIGNS can help transform ordinary spaces into environments that inspire pride and support your athletic mission.

Request a FREE Mock-Up today and discover how custom environmental graphics can celebrate your school's history, strengthen recruiting, and create a facility your entire community will be proud of.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of spaces can WonderWall™ Fabric Wall Graphics transform?

WonderWall™ is ideal for athletic hallways, locker rooms, gymnasiums, training facilities, field houses, entrances, and other large interior spaces where schools want to create an immersive branded environment.

Can WonderWall™ graphics showcase school history and alumni?

Yes. WonderWall™ graphics can feature historical photography, championship moments, alumni recognition, school achievements, motivational messaging, mascots, logos, and custom storytelling elements.

Are environmental wall graphics a good recruiting tool?

Absolutely. Professionally branded athletic spaces help create memorable campus visits, reinforce school pride, and give prospective student-athletes a stronger connection to the program.

Can BIGSIGNS create matching branding throughout an athletic campus?

Yes. BIGSIGNS can design coordinated graphics for hallways, locker rooms, gyms, stadiums, scoreboards, dugouts, walls, entrances, and other athletic spaces to create a unified visual identity.

Can environmental graphics be installed without renovating the building?

Yes. BIGSIGNS enhances existing facilities with custom branding and graphics, allowing schools to dramatically improve the appearance and impact of interior spaces without constructing or renovating the building itself.