Penobscot building lights

[drjeff]

As I sat in Comerica Park Monday and Tuesday nights, I was reminded again that for some reason the lights that used to illuminate the Penobscot building at night are no longer lit. The red ball was lit, but the white lights that shine on the upper parts of the building were dark and have been for quite some time now. Does anyone know why? This is such an iconic part of the Detroit skyline that I miss.

It also makes it seem like the red globe is floating in the sky by itself.

[esp1986]

I am shocked the red ball was even lit... the last time I saw any of that lit, it was only half the ball. As for the building, it has probably been at last 9-10 months since it has been lit. The building's owners, or former owners, were also the owners of the recently foreclosed First National Building that has been sold to Dan Gilbert. I have heard that the Penobscot is out of their hands now, but It is no surprise that the lights atop the building are of no concern to the owners...

one question for you... was the entire ball actually lit?

[drjeff]

I am shocked the red ball was even lit... the last time I saw any of that lit, it was only half the ball. As for the building, it has probably been at last 9-10 months since it has been lit. The building's owners, or former owners, were also the owners of the recently foreclosed First National Building that has been sold to Dan Gilbert. I have heard that the Penobscot is out of their hands now, but It is no surprise that the lights atop the building are of no concern to the owners...

one question for you... was the entire ball actually lit?

It sure looked like it from my vantage point. This is the first time I've seen any part of it lit in many months.

There were also no interior lights on in any part of the building I could see. Is it mostly vacant now?

On a good note, it's so nice to see lights on in the peak of the Broderick!

[mikeg19]

One thing that I liked a few years ago were those proposals to light up more buildings downtown. Not to the extent that those drawings had, but the accent lighting on the facade of the Penobscot, Stott, Guardian, and the like. It would be nice to see some of those buildings lit up a bit more at night. But then again, I can only imagine what it would cost to have lights burning all night on a building. Even if it was from 8pm to midnight would be cool.

[ismoakrack]

One Woodward has also gone dark within the last several months. Despite lights on in the Broderick, downtown is much darker. What gives?

I know the crown of the Guardian hasn't been lit up for centuries. Anybody know why?

[Gistok]

One Woodward has also gone dark within the last several months. Despite lights on in the Broderick, downtown is much darker. What gives?

I know the crown of the Guardian hasn't been lit up for centuries. Anybody know why?

Ummmmm this is just a guess, but..... looked at your DTE electric bill lately?

[ismoakrack]

Duh. Building occupancy must be considerably down.

[Downriviera]

I'm wondering if all the downtown buildings will be lit up for the coming Monday Night Football game. I know most cities do this when they have a Monday night game, makes for a nice aerial shot.

[BasementBeat]

I'm wondering if all the downtown buildings will be lit up for the coming Monday Night Football game. I know most cities do this when they have a Monday night game, makes for a nice aerial shot.

I hope so, would be an awful time for one of those downtown power outages...

[MSUguy]

Duh. Building occupancy must be considerably down.

That's what I was thinking, that given a drop in occupany they could no longer afford to keep the exterior lights on.

[bartock]

Duh. Building occupancy must be considerably down.

Not in the Guardian. I believe it is considerably up.

[Whitehouse]

I think the red ball might be lit by FAA regularion, an aircraft beacon.

[[A farm with a red ball on top)

[Gistok]

I think the red ball might be lit by FAA regularion, an aircraft beacon.

[[A farm with a red ball on top)

Good point... at 625ft. the ball at the top of the Penobscot Building is the 2nd tallest building point in Michigan.

[stasu1213]

The fountain at Campus Martius wasn't running around 4pm this past thursday. I was wonder was the city cutting back on the amount of power it uses to run it. There were paper and other litter in the fountain when it wasn't running. God forbids what it would look like if it was to stop running permanentely.

[bartock]

The fountain at Campus Martius wasn't running around 4pm this past thursday. I was wonder was the city cutting back on the amount of power it uses to run it. There were paper and other litter in the fountain when it wasn't running. God forbids what it would look like if it was to stop running permanentely.

Although it would be cool to see God's reaction to such a forbidden act, I am sure there is a cut-off date for running the fountain at Campus Martius. We are in October.

[rbdetsport]

The fountain in Campus Martius seems to always be on. When the christmas tree is put up on top of the foutain, the rolling water on the sides of the fountain still run.

[bartock]

The fountain in Campus Martius seems to always be on. When the christmas tree is put up on top of the foutain, the rolling water on the sides of the fountain still run.

I am certain I have seen it off at times, but come to think of it, it has been on in the winter. Perhaps no cut-off dates, just certain times.

[BRAZZMAN]

This is from about 1995 - 2000.

[rbdetsport]

I am certain I have seen it off at times, but come to think of it, it has been on in the winter. Perhaps no cut-off dates, just certain times.

Yes, that is what I meant to say. That while I am sure the city shuts the fountain off at times, it tends to be on throughout the year.

[Scottathew]

Anyone else notice that around the fourth floor that the Penobscot building has something that closely resembles a swastika that goes around the entire building?

[mikeg19]

Anyone else notice that around the fourth floor that the Penobscot building has something that closely resembles a swastika that goes around the entire building?

The "Swastikas" on the Penobscot Building were on the building before Hitler adopted them as part of his Nazi Germany. The Swastika actually was a good luck charm for the Penobscot Indians, as evidenced by the Native American theme of the building.

[Gistok]

The "Swastikas" on the Penobscot Building were on the building before Hitler adopted them as part of his Nazi Germany. The Swastika actually was a good luck charm for the Penobscot Indians, as evidenced by the Native American theme of the building.

Right you are, they are a native American motif, as well as ancient Roman. I saw some Swastika emblems on ancient Roman mosaic floors in Europe.

The Swastika was used as a 3rd Reich motif, taken as a symbol of ancient Rome...the Holy Roman Empire [[1st Reich, 800AD - 1806AD) was considered by Germans as a reestablishment of the Roman Empire. Another emblem taken by the Nazi's was the ancient Roman Fasces [[as seen on the back of old Mercury Dimes of 1916-45).... however, the fasces don't have the stigma today that the swastika has.

[Scottathew]

The "Swastikas" on the Penobscot Building were on the building before Hitler adopted them as part of his Nazi Germany. The Swastika actually was a good luck charm for the Penobscot Indians, as evidenced by the Native American theme of the building.

Wow, I had no idea!

My coworkers will find this information most fascinating. Thanks!

[stasu1213]

The ball was lit on top of the Penobscot Building tonight. Speaking of the Penobscot; I didn't know until 10 years ago the Chanel perfume co was housed inside of the building. I love walking through it, the Fisher, the Guardian, and the Dime

[Gistok]

The original owner of the Penobscot Buiding [[not Wirt Rowland, the architect) was from Maine... where the Penobscot Indians originated from... hence the building name. In fact the county where Bangor Maine is located is called Penobscot County.