Our modest skyline got a little darker last month. It appears that the Wells Fargo Tower has turned off its exterior lights and has now joined several other high-rises that also don't turn on their exterior lights. It's sad really, no sooner doe's the new US Bank Tower down the street turn on it's dancing LED lights giving Capitol Mall some life, the Wells Fargo tower turns it's lights off.
Two other notable towers downtown that should also have their lights on is the CalEPA building and the Federal Court House on I Street. Both building have pleasing displays around their crowns and really make our city twinkle at night when on.
The Elks Building off J Street was first lit-up about six months ago and I really like what they have done. It’s good to see that one of our historical landmarks can get so much love by its owners.
I do love a lit skyline as much as the next urbanite, but don't you think it's for energy-saving? I doubt the CalEPA building would ever turn its lights on, even if it didn't use that much energy...just a bad perception.
ReplyDeleteOkay, but then why did the CalEPA use them for the first few years? They even added Christmas lights into the mix too... it's just odd to me that they would spend money to install them but to then never use them again.
ReplyDeleteThey probably got tired of all the letters & calls about wasted energy @ the EPA . I mean even energy effeicient bulbs still use energy .
ReplyDeleteWhere I live near the beautiful East End complex the lights are always on well into the late night . It is quite a waste IMHO
Well, I guess it comes down to what kind of city do we want to live in and have people see as their first impression. The lighting of buildings for ornamental and safety reasons helps people fell safe as well as attracts them to come and stay longer. Poorly lit cities are a big turn off as a visitor… most destinations cities do their best to make them bright and exciting.
ReplyDeleteSacramento already has a perception problem as seen by out-of-towners… darkening the skyline will only make our city less appealing IMO.
I have to say, i prefer the Wells Fargo Building with no spot lights. If every building has all this decorative lighting, in my opinion, it would appear as trying to hard, and less like a city that just happens to have a healthy skyline. Besides a building lit with the pattern of illuminated office windows only, can be quite striking, no?
ReplyDeleteThere are only a few towers downtown that have any exterior lighting, and they are all moderate at best. It would be hard say that Sacramento’s tiring to hard?
ReplyDeleteI think this city needs to show off what it’s got. Most of downtowns filled with drab state office buildings where the lights go out at 5pm…so I would think the idea of lighting up a few office towers at night would be a novel idea?
I checked with property mgmt and was informed me that they temporarily shut down the lights for energy savings purposes. Nonetheless, the lights are planned to be up and running following Labor Day.
ReplyDelete