How Design Becomes Architecture
Custom terrazzo logos and inlays represent one of the most artistic and technically demanding expressions of the terrazzo craft. At David Allen Company, this level of work requires a deep understanding of design, engineering, digital fabrication, and field execution. The process begins long before any terrazzo meets the floor. It starts with an idea, often a piece of artwork or a logo that carries meaning, and is transformed step by step into a permanent architectural feature that will be walked on for generations.
What makes this possible is David Allen Company’s fully integrated workflow. Design intent is honored in every phase, from CAD development to water jet fabrication, from template creation to installation, from grinding to final finish. The company’s in-house capabilities allow its teams to support clients from concept to completion, maintaining integrity, accuracy, and artistic fidelity at every stage.
This article highlights the expertise of CAD Designer and In-House Fabrication Specialist Brooke Hirsch, along with the leadership of Terrazzo Division Manager Josh Roberson and John Wingo, whose extensive experience supports intricate artwork installations across a wide range of project types. Together, their combined skills demonstrate how David Allen Company transforms creative vision into precise architectural surfaces.
What Are CAD Drawings and Why They Matter
Every custom terrazzo logo begins with a CAD drawing. CAD, or Computer-Aided Design, provides the precise linework and dimensional accuracy required to convert artwork into buildable geometry. Terrazzo installations depend on this accuracy because every line in a CAD drawing becomes a physical metal strip in the floor. Every curve, boundary, and intersection must be measurable and manufacturable.
CAD drawings ensure that proportions remain true, that shapes do not distort during the fabrication process, and that the final layout can be replicated exactly on the slab. This step is especially important for large installations, where a few millimeters of error can multiply across dozens of feet.
From Artwork to Buildable Geometry
Simple logos may start as PDFs or image files. These are traced, scaled, and refined in CAD to maintain crisp edges and proper proportions.
Larger artistic installations require more interpretation. Brooke often collaborates with artists or design firms to ensure that the digital file retains the emotional quality of the original work while also meeting the physical limitations of terrazzo. As Division Manager John Wingo notes, artwork for terrazzo inlays can originate from simple cartoon-style drawings, detailed topographical maps, aerial imagery, or even freehand artist sketches. This broad range of sources allows terrazzo artisans to transform virtually any concept into precise, buildable geometry.
In-House Fabrication and Water Jet Cutting
The Fabrication Workflow
Once a CAD drawing is approved, Brooke converts it into water jet programs. These programs instruct the machine how to cut zinc or aluminum strips into the shapes that will define each portion of the logo. The designs are broken into manageable sections that fit within the metal sheets used by the water jet.
Every cut piece includes a keyed system, similar to a puzzle. These keys ensure that pieces can be reassembled in the shop with perfect alignment before the installation team handles them in the field.
Why In-House Fabrication Matters
David Allen Company’s in-house fabrication provides several critical advantages. Quality is controlled at every stage, from the digital drawing to the physical cut. Turnaround times are significantly faster because there is no need to outsource. Communication between fabrication and field teams remains clear and immediate, removing guesswork.
Perhaps most importantly, this capability ensures that the finished terrazzo matches the original design with remarkable precision. Colors land exactly where they should, boundaries remain sharp, and the final installation feels cohesive and intentional.
Mesh-Mounted Assembly
Many logos are assembled in the shop on mesh sheets. The keyed metal pieces are reconstructed on mesh backing to create full sections of the design. These mesh-mounted panels arrive on site as four-by-eight sheets, or as custom modules sized for the project. This approach gives installers a head start in the field, reduces layout time, and protects the integrity of complex shapes. This flexibility allows terrazzo artisans to execute a wide range of artwork, from school logos and institutional emblems to mountain ranges, rivers, metropolitan layouts, and other detailed landscape designs.
Template and Stenciling Process
Why Templates Are Critical
Before any metal strips are set, installers must confirm proportions, geometry, and flow. Templates provide a full-scale blueprint on the floor that guides the placement of every strip. For designs with flowing shapes or organic artwork, templates help installers maintain the artist’s intent and ensure that curves remain smooth and continuous.
The Chloroplast Stenciling System
For very large logos and airport-scale artwork, the team often uses stencils. David Allen Company works with a specialty partner in Iowa who produces chloroplast sheets in four-by-eight sections, each one cut with ribbons that represent the design’s lines. These stencils are placed over the slab, and installers spray paint through the cutouts to transfer the entire layout onto the concrete.
This process allows installers to see the full artwork at once. It is invaluable for large medallions, murals, and multi-color logos that span significant floor areas.
Benefits of the Stencil Process
The stenciling system keeps installation true to the CAD geometry. •It ensures proper placement of hand-bent strips as well as waterjet-cut pieces. •It simplifies communication between design, fabrication, and field teams. •It allows installers to visualize the entire design at scale before beginning the work, which prevents errors and enhances efficiency.
On-Site Installation and Epoxy Application
Installing Mesh-Backed Designs
Once templates are complete, mesh-mounted design panels are brought onto the slab. Installers position them according to the painted layout, ensuring alignment with each adjoining piece. The mesh is weighted with buckets to help the strips settle flat.
To secure the structure, epoxy is troweled beneath the mesh. Once anchored, the assembly cures overnight to prevent shifting when terrazzo materials are placed.
Applying Terrazzo Color by Color
Terrazzo installation for logos requires color control. Installers place each color one at a time, ensuring clean separation and avoiding color bleed. Timing is essential. Colors must dry between pours so they maintain crisp boundaries.
This step is often compared to a paint-by-number process, although the scale and complexity are far greater.
Grinding and Grouting Intricate Designs
Once the terrazzo cures, grinding begins. Larger fields are ground with machinery, but tight corners and intricacies require grinders and hand tools. After grinding, small gaps between colors are filled by hand with grout to create a seamless surface.
This detailing is time-consuming, but it is what gives David Allen Company logos their signature sharpness and long-lasting precision.
Field Leadership
As Terrazzo Division Manager, Josh oversees every stage of field execution. He manages installation sequencing, supervises labor, verifies surface preparation, and performs on-site quality control. John, also a Terrazzo Division Manager, brings extensive experience leading high-volume terrazzo installations that include complex strip work, artwork layouts, and detailed inlay coordination. His leadership strengthens the company’s ability to manage multiple large-scale projects while maintaining consistent craftsmanship and precision.
Both managers maintain close communication with Brooke’s fabrication team, project artists, and general contractors, ensuring that all parties remain aligned and that the design intent is preserved from start to finish. Their leadership supports the successful installation of intricate terrazzo logos and medallions across a wide range of project types.
Real-World Application: Greenville–Spartanburg Airport
Scope of the Installation
One example of this process in action can be seen at the Greenville–Spartanburg Airport parking garage, where the team installed custom medallions requiring precise templates, strip layouts, and multi-color sequencing.
Client Testimonial
“I got to see the finished GSP medallions yesterday and they turned out fantastic. Lee, I appreciate your expertise and work on achieving such a high standard, and Cheryl, thank you for your guidance with color selection and proofing. I hope we will have the opportunity to work together again.”
This project demonstrates the importance of collaboration between design, color selection, fabrication, and field teams. It highlights the company’s ability to replicate artwork faithfully, manage complex installations, and deliver exceptional results in highly visible public spaces.
Why David Allen Company’s Approach Creates Superior Results
Custom terrazzo logos demand technical confidence, artistic understanding, and seamless coordination. By integrating design, fabrication, templating, and installation under one roof, David Allen Company eliminates disconnects that often appear when multiple firms handle different phases of the work.
In-house water jet fabrication provides consistent quality and faster revisions. Skilled installers protect the fidelity of the artwork. The combined leadership of division managers like Josh and John ensures that even the most complex terrazzo artwork installations run smoothly from digital concept through final finish. The teams have the capability to execute simple logos and large public art installations with equal precision, combining engineering, creativity, and craftsmanship to achieve remarkable results.
A Craft of Precision, Collaboration, and Design
Custom terrazzo logos become permanent architectural elements. They are walkable works of art that tell stories, reinforce identity, and withstand the demands of high-traffic environments.
David Allen Company’s disciplined process ensures that each inlay, whether small or monumental, remains true to its design intent and stands the test of time. The combination of creativity, technical skill, and respect for craftsmanship defines the company’s approach to terrazzo and continues to guide every project. As John Wingo emphasizes, terrazzo waterjet inlays are timeless. Their durability ensures that the artwork installed today will be enjoyed for generations to come.