Pru’s big cheer for hometown team
It might’ve been the Red Sox’ largest message of support. The message, GO SOX, emblazoned on one side of the Prudential Tower, overlooked Fenway Park during home games this World Series.
The Prudential Tower, owned by office developer Boston Properties, has put the message of support on the side of the building overlooking Fenway Park for every World Series home game since 1986.
“Our place in the skyline allows us to provide support for local charities and events,” said senior property manager Dan Shanahan. “As the beacon of Boston, Prudential Tower is an icon of the Boston skyline.”
The tower has utilized light schemes to commemorate other sporting events in the past, including honoring the Patriots during the Super Bowl. Additionally, Prudential lit the number “1” on the side of the Prudential Tower in April 2013, in tribute to the victims and those impacted by the Boston Marathon bombings, and in support of and to raise awareness for The One Fund Boston.
The Prudential might be blocky and nondescript, but it is unmistakable against the Boston skyline. The 750-foot skyscraper is the secondtallest in the city, right behind the John Hancock building, at 790 feet.
Shanahan says 17 floors are utilized to create the message that spans a total height of 235 feet and a width of 180 feet. Floor by floor, approximately a dozen maintenance and janitorial staff members spend two hours every night setting up 165 light panels in pre-selected windows.
“We have a diagram that we utilize with the window design, that is reversed for the staff inside to identify the correct windows for the message,” Shanahan said. To ensure there are no misspellings or mistakes, staff “view from Boylston Street near the intersection of Mass. Ave. as it starts to get dark.”
“The top of Prudential Tower is lit by LED lights that can change color to any color of the rainbow,” Shanahan said. In December, “we light the top of the Prudential Tower a different color each night to shine a light” on 29 local nonprofit organizations.