Illuminating Market East: The Lit Brothers Building

The Lit Brothers Building is the only complete block of Victorian commercial architecture in the city of Philadelphia and is part of the National Register of Historic Places. The Lighting Practice was tasked with highlighting the facade and other historical features, specifically the classical arch windows. TLP’s design embraces the elegance of the architecture and uses a LED lighting system with color-changing capability to highlight the fine details in the facade. The design, approved by the City of Philadelphia’s Historical Commission, incorporates low profile adjustable brackets strategically placed beneath each sill and additional LED uplights mounted to existing brackets creating vertical columns of light along the facade.

The Lit Brothers Building Debuts A New Facade Illumination Just In Time For Pope Francis’ Visit And Will Live Stream The Papal Mass

September 22, 2015 | Jillian Wilson

After two-years of development — and just in time for Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia — the Lit Brothers Building, which is located on Market Street between 7th and 8th streets, unveiled a brand-new, $9.5 million digital light display that will run the length of the building — 80 feet along the 7th and 8th streets and 160 feet along Market Street.

The lights were turned on for the first time last night at dusk, and will continue to glow this weekend during Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia.
The brand-new, color-changing light display is made up of about 500 lights that are each at the base of the windows that line the Lit Brothers Building. The new development also includes an illuminated digital display on the roof.

Throughout the year, the lights will be used to celebrate special events in Philadelphia including this weekend’s Papal visit. The realty company behind the building, Brickstone Realty, will celebrate the Pope’s visit to Philadelphia with a live broadcast of the Papal mass, the speech at Independence Mall and the Festival of Families on the digital display.

Over Papal weekend, the building’s facade will be decorated with Papal colors — yellow and white. Leading up to the Pope’s visit to Philadelphia, and after his visit, the facade will illuminate nightly at dusk.

Look to the sky this weekend for glittering lights on Market Street.

Read full article:  The Lit Brothers Building Debuts A New Facade Illumination Just In Time For Pope Francis’ Visit And Will Live Stream The Papal Mass

Design Team
Owner: Brickstone Realty
Architect: Stantec
Lighting Design: The Lighting Practice, Inc.
MEP Engineer: BALA
Structural Engineer: O’Donnell & Naccarato
Electrical Contractor: Metro Electric
Façade Lighting Fixtures: Philips Lighting
Decorative Lantern Fixtures: Cyclone Lighting