The Beacon at The Tower at PNC Plaza
At The Tower at PNC Plaza in Pittsburgh, sustainability isn’t hidden behind walls—it shines at the center of the lobby. Designed by NBBJ's experience design studio, ESI, "The Beacon" is a soaring data-driven light sculpture that transforms the building’s green performance metrics into an ever-changing display of color, light and sound, making invisible environmental systems visible to everyone who enters.
The Beacon uses over 1,500 liquid-crystal panels, each illuminated by LEDs, to translate building performance into visual poetry. Drawing on data about energy use, temperature, sunlight, wind, and water systems, it generates dynamic light patterns that ripple up its 30-story form. A companion website accessible in the lobby explains these dazzling displays, deepening visitors’ understanding of how the building breathes, adapts and conserves resources.
Features
Different modes visualize varying sustainability aspects: weather mode displays patterns that shift in real time to reflect current weather, from calm sunny hues to dynamic storm visuals. Energy mode displays live data about energy use and conservation, while water mode visualizes water collection and usage, reinforcing sustainable resource management.
Project Details
Client Name
PNC Bank
Program
Digital art installation, corporate lobby
Services
Experience design
Phase
Completed
Client Name
PNC Bank
Program
Digital art installation, corporate lobby
Services
Experience design
Phase
Completed
2016 Fast Company Innovation By Design Award – Honorable Mention in Places, Spaces and Cities
2016 Fast Company Innovation By Design Award – Honorable Mention in Places, Spaces and Cities
