LED Lights On Empire State Building Put On A Show

The Empire State Building got a lighting makeover which debuted this week. Brand new LED light banks have been installed for the building's exterior that now create a rainbow of millions of colors that can flash to a syncrhonized beat.

The premiere of the new system happened Monday evening at 9PM with a radio simulcast of Alicia Keys songs "Girl On Fire" and "Empire State of Mind". The new system is called the Philips Color Kinetic Lighting System and creates a whole new look for midtown's signature tower.

I have to say that as cool as it is it also reminds me of those kooky synchronized house lighting displays, which I've featured on here before. Is this new look too kitschy for the staid Empire State Building?

The New World Trade Center Is The Tallest Building In NYC

Today, if all goes according to plan, 1 World Trade Center will claim its spot as the tallest in New York City when the first beam of the 100th floor goes up.  It will rise pass the height of the Empire State Building at 1251 feet. The new building, which ultimately will rise to the symbolic height of 1776 feet with a large broadcast tower, is expected to top out this summer and will open for business in 2014.


Below is a very cool video that came out this weekend to commemorate the progress on the new World Trade Center. Shot over the course of 7 years, it shows the building rise in a stunning time-lapse film.  Watch as 1 World Trade Center rises from below ground to tower over lower Manattan in just under 2 minutes.