Alicia Keys Helps Debut Empire State Building’s New LED Lights

Last Tuesday the New York City skyline was lit up like never before, thanks to a new RGB LED lighting system installed on the top of the Empire State Building. Certain componenets of the new system were tested on presidential election night this year, with blue and red LED meters displaying voting results. Read about it here.  Now the installation of the entire system is complete and the building debuted its new rig with a dazzling light display, which showed off the system’s capabilities, including a 16 million-color palette and boundless effects, including ripples, cross-fades, sparkles, chasers, sweeps, strobes and bursts. Officials synched the lighting show to two Alicia Keys songs that ooze New York pride: “Girl on Fire” and “Empire State of Mind.” NYC residents could tune into one of four radio stations to listen to the songs while watching the synched LED lighting show in real time. “In addition to greater control and management of the lighting, the new computerized system will deliver superior light and vibrancy levels,” according to the Huffington Post. The LED lighting system replaced incandescent flood lights, and promises to increase visibility and the range of custom, dynamic shows the iconic building can display.