EXCLUSIVE: Behind The Scenes Look At The Miami Tower
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Tower is one of the most recognized buildings lining the Magic City's downtown skyline, but the 47-story tower is also famous for its ever-changing lighting scheme.
Every few seconds, the colors change. They go on before 6 p.m. and stay on until 1 a.m. The tower is powered by technology and the color is the character behind the skyscraper:
Installed within the last year, the lighting system allows for 16.7 million different combinations. It runs off an iPad connected to a computer. Such flexibility allows for preselected light shows, meaning South Florida can expect something different every night of the week.
There are more than 100 lights on the building and atop the light poles. The original system relied on lights being mounted atop neighboring rooftops. We had to pay leases and insurance costs to the owners of those buildings. With this new installation, all of those leases have been eliminated.
The illuminated tower's prominent past includes being featured in the opening of '80s hit TV show Miami Vice along with appearances in Gloria Estefan videos including "Turn The Beat Around". It opened in 1987 as the CenTrust Tower from the failed savings and loan.
The managers of the Miami Tower said the new lighting system was designed to ensure it remains a work of art.
