“Philly Shines Blue” To Honor Health Care Workers

Effort Starts on April 7, World Health Day; Dozens of Locations Participating

PHILADELPHIA (April 2, 2020) – Many of the most iconic buildings and landmarks in Philadelphia will shine blue next Tuesday in honor of World Health Day and the heroic health care workers and first responders battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

In partnership with the City of Philadelphia, the Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) of Philadelphia, the Parkway Council and the Center City District, more than three dozen commercial, cultural and residential buildings from Center City to South Philadelphia will change their illumination to blue starting Tuesday, April 7, and continuing each Tuesday for the rest of the month. Participants include the cultural institutions on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the boathouses along the Schuylkill River, LOVE Park and Dilworth Park.

“The selfless health care workers who are on the front lines of this public health crisis are true heroes,” Mayor Jim Kenney said. “The act of lighting our city up in blue is a small but highly visible way to express our support and appreciation during this trying time. We want Philadelphia’s health care workers to know we are thinking of them and are eternally grateful for the sacrifices they are making each day.”

Many of the participating buildings are outfitted with LED technology that allows outdoor façade and crown lighting to change color. Buildings without that capability are being asked to consider lighting their lobbies in blue or utilizing other types of blue exterior uplighting.

The “Philly Shines Blue” initiative originated with the Parkway Council, a nonprofit coalition of cultural and educational institutions, business and residences in the Parkway Museums District. Per the Council’s Executive Director, Judi Rogers, “it quickly became apparent that many others were looking for a visual way to honor and show support for health care workers, whose courage is now being tested on a daily basis.”

“This is an important way for our industry and our great city to send a heartfelt and collective ‘thank you’ to the entire health care community – locally, regionally and nationally – as they work tirelessly to fight this pandemic and keep us safe,” said Kristine A. Kiphorn, BOMA Executive Director.

Participating locations are listed below. This list is preliminary and more sites may be added:

Parkway Museums District: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Boathouse Row, the Franklin Institute, Moore College of Art and Design, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Free Library of Philadelphia (Parkway Central), The Windsor Suites, LOVE Park and the Four Seasons Hotel.

Avenue of the Arts: The Bellevue (200 S. Broad Street), University of the Arts (211 S.  Broad), 215 Building (215 S. Broad), Land Title Building (100 S. Broad), North American Building (121 S. Broad), Wells Fargo (123 S. Broad) and the 1401 Building (1401 S. Broad).

Center City: 1835 Market (1835 Market Street), Centre Square (1500 Market), PECO Building (2301 Market), Loews Hotel (1200 Market), Two Liberty Place (50 S. 16th), Commerce Square (2001 & 2005 Market), Cira Centre (2929 Arch), FMC Tower at Cira Centre South (2929 Walnut), Lits Building (719-721 Market), One Liberty Place (1635 Market), Pennsylvania Convention Center (1101 Arch Street), The G. Fred DiBona Building (1901 Market), The Phoenix (1600 Arch), The Griffin (1338 Chestnut), Three Logan Square (1717 Arch), BNY Mellon Center (1735 Market), Dilworth Park (1 S. 15th) and the Wanamaker Office Building (One Penn Square).

Stadiums District: Citizens Bank Park, Wells Fargo Center, Lincoln Financial Field.

Other sites that are interested in participating in “Philly Shines Blue” should contact BOMA at info@bomaphila.com or 215-567-1775.

In the News

April 7, 2020 | Tonight, Philadelphia lights up blue to say thank you to health care workers and first responders, 6ABC on twitter
April 7, 2020 | Coronavirus Philadelphia: Iconic Buildings, Landmarks Around City Light Up Blue Blue In Honor Of Health Care Workers, CBS3
April 7, 2020 | 'Philly Shines Blue' in honor of health workers for World Health Day, Fox29

###