Pittsburgh Magazine: When the pyramid-shaped cap to the Gulf Tower first started giving a weather report, it was a binary prediction. Beginning in 1956, the pyramid atop the 44-story skyscraper would glow orange for fair weather, blue for foul — a practice that continued into the 1970s.
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I have always admired buildings that have colored lighting added to them. It gives it character in a way and makes it pleasing to the eye at night time. That's something I do like about Pittsburgh is the colorful lighting on some of its buildings and many of its bridges, and I would say Gulf Tower is one of my favorites to look at. I find it pretty cool and clever that the lighting on the pyramid of Gulf Tower represents the weather report, it’s something I never knew until now. Even though everyone can check their phones quickly, I think it’s more of a fun thing people can know when they see it, and it gives the color choices actual meaning behind it. After reading this article it does bring up the question, what are the meanings behind other color choices with different buildings’ and bridges’ lighting, or are they just set to a default color that was randomly chosen?
What caught my attention in this article is how something as simple as colored lighting can become a meaningful part of a city’s identity. I’ve always thought illuminated buildings were visually striking, but I didn’t realize the Gulf Tower’s lights actually functioned as a weather report when viewed from afar. The way each layer of the pyramid communicates temperature, humidity, rain chances, and wind speed makes the building feel both artistic and practical. Even though most people rely on their phones now, there’s something charming about a landmark offering this kind of information through color alone. It turns an everyday weather update into a creative visual experience that anyone can enjoy by just looking up. Reading about the Gulf Tower also makes me wonder how many other buildings use lighting with a purpose, and how many simply choose colors for aesthetics. It adds a new layer of appreciation to city skylines.
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