Rockefeller Center Lit Up in Blue Last Night for Essential Workers

Photo courtesy Tishman Speyer

Following last week’s inaugural #LightItBlue event, where landmarks all around the country were lit up in blue to honor frontline workers, Rockefeller Center joined the party last night for the weekly event taking place now every Thursday. The iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza building was lit entirely in blue.

#LightItBlue efforts in the United States are being led by a collective of people in the events and entertainment industry.  The press release for the event calls it “a collective salute to the millions of essential workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Joe Zenas, the lead organizer of the event in the United States and the CEO at Thinkwell Group, a design and production agency said, “We’ve been so inspired over the past few weeks by the cheers of our neighbors around the world – and we wanted to bring this collective gratitude to an even bigger stage here in the U.S. This is a heartfelt ‘thank you’ from those of us at home to those of us who are going to work each day to keep our country going.”

Photo courtesy Tishman Speyer

In challenging moments, it has been common to find architectural ways to express a sense of solidarity. Last week, the Empire State Building turned into a pulsing red for first responders. In the past, 1 WTC has been lit up in support of March for our Lives, for the terrorist attacks in France, LGBTQ Pride, and more. City Hall, the city’s bridges, and more lit up in green for the Climate Change Accord. The region’s transportation networks and agencies sounded the horns on trains, subways, ferries, and more yesterday to salute transit workers and essential workers. And New Yorkers themselves are also taking the charge with the daily 7 PM Clap Because You Care and last night’s first citywide sing-a-long to New York, New York.

Next, see more landmarks lit up in blue across New York City and state.