I know I'm a couple days late to the conversation, but Cleveland's federal courthouse building is a good example of the importance of lighting up the tops of skyscrapers. It's a striking building at night when they light up the top, but they haven't done that for years and now it's rather boring at night. Is there any chance they'll start lighting it up again? (sorry this is a bit off-topic)

^stupid birds

 

Not sure why other towers can light up, but not that one. Perhaps if they downlit?

Lighting would be very important to this project as well.

 

Driving north on Ontario the other day, I could not help but recall a comment by (possibly) by Dan Gilbert about how he wants to make the intersection of Ontario and Huron Cleveland's version of Times Square.

Yeah, I can totally see that happening now.

They no longer light up PNC tower either... Too bad. I know there are reasons but it makes such a difference on the skyline. I'm sure NuCleUs will be well lit!

If I recall correctly cost factored into discontinuing the lighting of the federal courthouse (so everyone should be pleased that the government is saving us money :wink:)

The Terminal Tower isn't as lit up as it was pre renovations, but is actually more reflective of it's original lighting scheme.  Anyways...

If I recall correctly cost factored into discontinuing the lighting of the federal courthouse (so everyone should be pleased that the government is saving us money :wink:)

 

Funny though--late at night the only lights you see on INSIDE downtown office buildings are the government ones.  Drive by that courthouse at midnight and it's lit up like a Christmas tree!

^ I was thinking the same thing! I really hope they light up the top of that building again. It really does look cool when it's lit up.

 

But anyway, I don't want to take this off-topic anymore. Is there a thread for downtown lighting?

I know I'm a couple days late to the conversation, but Cleveland's federal courthouse building is a good example of the importance of lighting up the tops of skyscrapers. It's a striking building at night when they light up the top, but they haven't done that for years and now it's rather boring at night. Is there any chance they'll start lighting it up again? (sorry this is a bit off-topic)

 

Yes this was very nice lit up, and made quite an impact coming over the DS bridge, but has turned into a real night time dud the past few years that they haven't been lighting it. 

 

Since this bothered me quite a bit, I contacted the building manager about this a couple of years ago and they stated that they no longer light the building due to GSA energy conservation this and that, but said they still light it on special occasions of which I have not seen (and totally not true).  Interesting they are able to light all the federal building 24/7 in DC though.....    Letter writing campaign?

@ Willy -

I know this is drifting off topic, but I'm under the impression Cuy Cty plans to relight the bridges in the flats (I don't know who, and I don't know what budget).  I wonder who's on that project and whether they would be the person to reach out to in order to put some wind on that wave by asking them to influence relighting the Fed Courthouse.  Seems very pipe-dreamy to me, but the right folk with the right influence are the only people who're really needed to make that happen.

A letter-writing campaign sure couldn't hurt!

Totally agree on the fed courthouse building, I would be happy with just lighting the crown. A government building could look to installing energy saving LED lights as part of a 'green'campaign. Maybe someone like www.land-studio.org could be approached as part of a project to light building for the RNC.

Also Erieview tower is always dark, maybe some signature lighting something like I have done below would make them more attractive to prospective tenants.

Ehh, that reminds me a little too much of the Bank of America building in Dallas - appropriate for a place that celebrates gaudy but not so much for Cleveland. I think maybe just limit the lighting on Tower at Erieview to the cornice and that would be enough for it to stand out. I'd like to see One Cleveland Center have some modest floodlighting to show off its angles:

 

Architectural lighting really does make a huge difference for a city's skyline. Pittsburgh, for example, looks beautiful at night. In Cleveland, the only towers with notable architectural lighting are Terminal Tower, Key Tower, and 200 Public Square. It made quite a difference when the federal courthouse was lit up.

 

I strongly agree about One Cleveland Center. It's hard to add accent lighting to a mid-century building like Erieview or a brutalist building like the Justice Center, but I don't understand why there has never been good lighting for One Cleveland Center.

I strongly agree about One Cleveland Center. It's hard to add accent lighting to a mid-century building like Erieview or a brutalist building like the Justice Center, but I don't understand why there has never been good lighting for One Cleveland Center.

 

There are a pair of identical brutalist office buildings in Solon (5985 Cochran Road). Last year one of them was sold and renovated for First National Bank. Here is the current streetview, which was updated last October. You can see the other one in the background. The exterior was painted white, and they added uplighting and blue LED strips around the top. I've been meaning to get night shots just because it looks out of place in Solon. The uplighting makes it at least passable.

Ehh, that reminds me a little too much of the Bank of America building in Dallas - appropriate for a place that celebrates gaudy but not so much for Cleveland.

Well  I didn't put that much thought into it, I just thought it looked cool...Besides they would be LED so it could be different colors for different reasons, like the TT. It needs something, at this point I would settle with the cornice for sure.

If I'm not mistaken, Crown Center (aka "Downtown Independence") uses LED lighting.

Cool, thanks for the pic, Mendo!

 

I used to despise brutalism, but recently I've come to appreciate some aspects of it. I'd much rather have a daring brutalist building than a boring suburban-style building. I hate the way most brutalist buildings interact with the streetscape, but that's not necessarily a universal thing. If it was feasible, I would love if the Justice Center added some street-level additions with retail, on Lakeside and Ontario (I'd also love if they moved the county jail, and built some mixed use buildings in its place, but that's pretty pie-in-the-sky).

 

Anyway, now that I think of it, the Justice Center could look really great with some mild floodlighting at the top, above the windows, and along the top half of the corners. The building is supposed to look top-heavy, so that would still be respectful of the architecture, while adding some much-needed light to downtown. I'm terrible with photoshop, and also can't find any picture of the Justice Center at night, but I hope you guys basically get the gist of it.

Did I imagine this or did the Courthouse Tower have the cornice spotlights back on tonight???

^ And you didn't take pics???

 

^ And you didn't take pics???

 

I might've been wrong. I saw it from the distance while driving but I really thought they were on!

 

^ And you didn't take pics???

 

I might've been wrong. I saw it from the distance while driving but I really thought they were on!

 

Currently looking at the courthouse from my living room window...unfortuantely there isn't any lighting

Anyone else notice the different lighting the last couple of nights on the Breuer, at&t,and the Q? I know they have been testing the new ribbon scoreboards at Progressive. But I wouldn't think they project that much. So idk...

It's most definitely the new scoreboards.

 

I think that's gotta be from The Jake. And if it is....WOW ?

My bedroom window faces north, and it still was annoying last night because the reflection was bouncing off the building across the street from me. I would not be happy if I had a south facing apartment in the 9 or Huron Sq

*Hopefully* for those apartments it won't be so bad during the season, since it won't be rotating pure primary colors.

It would be nice if they were actually intentually lit up, especially with all the events coming up for summer. Maybe someone from the city or at least Geis will notice and say to themselves, hmm well that looks cool.

*Hopefully* for those apartments it won't be so bad during the season, since it won't be rotating pure primary colors.

 

Well, yeah, exactly. It won't be as pronounced when they're actually in use. Plus, the scoreboards would rarely be on much passed 10pm; these were still flashing last night after midnight

That's also with the field dark. I would think the tower lights would wash some of that out. But don't we always say if you don't like noise and flashing lights don't move to the city.

I suppose if you've gotten used to fireworks bursting right outside your window this will be nothing.

There's nothing usual about the lights. I can see the haze over downtown in alternating colors of lights -- from my Lakewood balcony 5 miles away!

I think it a shame a Building that is such a big part of our skyline like the Carl B Stokes federal courthouse just sits in the dark at night like it does especially since the top of the building was lit for years and I imagine still has the lighting fixtures up there to relight it with as long as all the new LED lighting lasts and the low maintenance involved there's really no reason the top shouldn't be lit.Heres a picture of it while it was lit.

I think it a shame a Building that is such a big part of our skyline like the Carl B Stokes federal courthouse just sits in the dark at night like it does especially since the top of the building was lit for years and I imagine still has the lighting fixtures up there to relight it with as long as all the new LED lighting lasts and the low maintenance involved there's really no reason the top shouldn't be lit.Heres a picture of it while it was lit.

 

Don't get me started DWCLE.  This is a huge pet peeve of mine. 

 

A few years ago when I contacted the building manager, he said it was due to efforts by the GSS to conserve energy etc.....  Which doesn't seem to apply to other GSS buildings, or the nations capital.... 

He also indicated that they still light the building on special occasions, which of course doesn't happen. 

 

I still encourage everyone to contact the building management regarding this...   

^How does the downtown Councilman feel about this?  I think getting his push would help out a lot.  I think we all would like this building to be lit again at night.

Let the PNC Tower management know too...  and the bridges in the Flats...  at least there was a grassroots effort to get the Guardians of Traffic lights fixed on Facebook that proved successful!

I thought it had to do with some BS about bird migration disruption

I thought it had to do with some BS about bird migration disruption

 

I know I have heard that a lot regarding limiting the time etc., but that was never mentioned regarding the Fed. Courthouse tower. 

Yeah the PNC building is definitely another one along with relighting the bridges in the Flats the list goes on.I was hoping the upper section of the Hilton convention center hotel was going to have lighting instead they have that line on the front lit SMH witch does nothing for the skyline at night.

I think contacting the downtown councilmen I believe it's Joe Cimperman would be the best way to possibly getting something done about the federal courthouse and even the PNC building but calling the buildings management wouldn't hurt either.

I don't think we need buildings lit for no good reason.  There's too much light pollution anyways.  Maybe in the 80's and 90's when Downtown seemed dark and forbidding at ground level it helped to make it feel more lively, but I don't think it's as necessary anymore.

Cimperman is not on City Council anymore

Ward 3 Council Member is Kerry McCormack

 

[email protected]

 

216-664-2691

 

He has a twitter account as well which could be good for this type of campaign.

As permits are issued for new buildings or substantial rehabs can/does the city ask about architectural lighting as part of the design review process, and if so can they also ask about maintenance of that lighting?  Just as they are concerned about the look of a building in the daytime I think there should be concern about a buildings presence at night. Maybe they are I just don't know to what extent, but I imagine if they can force changes in color pallets they should equally have a say in exterior lighting.  Does this happen?  Can they ask how the lights will be maintained?