#PITTSBURGH
The truest symbol of Pittsburgh is its people. By reviving a landmark that promotes interaction and input from the people of Pittsburgh, the sign becomes tied to the community/city in a way that is representative of the richness that exists in this city. The sign itself is really 2 signs in one, changing and morphing as day turns into night, and it is at night where this sign strives to do something that will inspire and amaze Pittsburgher’s and her visitors for years to come. For over 90 years a relatively static sign has stood watch overseeing Pittsburgh’s evolution from a black sky Steel Town to a thriving and breathtaking city on the cutting edge in technology and medicine. The aim of this sign is to not only pay homage to the storied and celebrated history of our blue collared Steel City and its people, but to also be the dynamic and interactive sign that a true 21st century city deserves.
1920’s and 30’s - Clarks Teaberry Gum
1950’s - Iron City Beer
1960’s - Alcoa, Inc
1990’s - Bayer
By day the sign functions in much the same way it has for years, proudly spelling out PITTSBURGH in a perforated metal panel system, our ‘Steel City’ HOLLYWOOD sign. The material and aesthetic, a clear nod to the current incarnation of the sign constructed by Alcoa, Inc. In the 1960’s, is quintessential Pittsburgh. A balance between the metals that built this city and the intricate computative perforations in that material are indicative of the technological hub that Pittsburgh is today. The addition of sky bridges that span the steep hillside, projecting past the face of the sign structure below, to offer a picturesque view of the confluence and Golden Triangle. These sky bridges are comprimised of photovoltaic paving panels, similar to those made by Onyx Solar, that harvest and power for the sign and bridges lights. No longer will this merely be a sign on the hillside forbidding interaction with its people. It will become a place of activity and intrigue. A beacon on that same hillside welcoming interaction from the residents of Mount Washington, as well as patrons of the adjacent Duquesne Incline. But when the sun goes down, one quickly realizes that while on the surface it might seem business as usual, underneath, the sign is something truly cutting edge and innovative.
The app and social media campaign associated with the #PITTSBURGH project are integral to community awareness and intergration into the fabric of our city. A simple, user friendly interface will allow users to quickly drive their own experience.
At night, the perforated metal screen transitions from its monolithic static appearance to reveal this signs duality of function. An interactive LED light array mounted behind the screen brings it to life. The day /night transition represents Pittsburgh’s transition into the advanced innovative city it has become and is continuing to grow into. The LED array is made up of over 350 Phillips iColor Accent Powercore fixtures connected together to transform the sign into an interactive screen that can be controlled by the public via an app. Users can select from a library of preprogrammed lighting patterns and routines, control the colors displayed and watch the sign change in real time from anywhere in the city. The light fixture itself is easily programmable to make the fixture pulse and flicker, as well as render in a wide variety of colors. The color and movement will create a very visible and attractive point of interest and destination, bringing people to the site. The ability to not merely observe the sign, but to interact and influence the signs appearance fosters a deeper sense of ownership and connection to the public and the city. Pittsburgh deserves a sign that is as inviting, dynamic, and innovative as its people. It should reach out into the connected world that we live in and participate in that community. The purpose of the app and the sign’s social media accounts is to keep that interaction constant and fresh. Whether it be tweeting out someone’s selfie from one of the bridges atop the sign or a tourist logging into the app from North Shore and watching the sign light up in front of their eyes, the sign will become part and parcel of the experience and culture of Pittsburgh. This duality of appearance and function between day and night in many ways represents the evolution that Pittsburgh has undergone over the course of the nearly 100 years since a sign was first put up on slopes of Mount Washington.
INTERACT - Users will be taken to an application screen where they can scroll through programmed light shows that will display as gifs showing the pattern and movement prior to selection. Based on the program selected, a set number of color selectors will appear in their default positions on a color wheel, where they can be manipulated to the desired colors the user wants to see. A simple click of the GO button and the sign will morph into the selection. COMMUNICATE - This tab will link to the signs multiple social media accounts, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc. This serves as a public community board to see goings on at the sign site as well as a promotional tool for local communities to post events. Users can then use the #PITTSBURGH tag with their photos and comments, developing a digital community associated with the sign. DONATE - Through the DONATE tab, the community will be able to make contributions to the #PITTSBURGH project to help donate to the public works project. This money will be used for upkeep, maintenance, and to keep the LIGHT SHOW library fresh and ever changing.