Architecture, a Tool For Hope

by Brian Crawford

Southwestern Pennsylvania has a proud history of excellence.  If a team doesn’t win the championship it’s a lost season.  When we build a skyscraper and want to make it environmentally friendly, it has to be the most environmentally friendly in the world.  We have more Fortune 500 companies than cities more than five times our size.  Robotics?  Boy do we got robotics.  One other thing we tend to do better than anyone else, light buildings.  Pittsburgh building owners and managers approach lighting buildings like it’s the last two minutes in the Stanley Cup Final and they have to pull the goalie, they’re all in.  I remember last June 14th-Flag Day.  I was heading to work and crossing the West End Bridge; I look to my right, stars and stripes for ever.

Last Tuesday Pittsburgh did it again this time lighting teal for the first Tuesday of Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month which runs from May 15th through June 15th (yeah, I know, the middle of the month is a weird time to be the beginning of the month).  Every year the PA Tourette Syndrome Alliance (PATSA) asks its followers to wear teal on Tuesdays during the awareness month to help spread awareness of Tourette Syndrome and to support those living with it.  Tuesday marked the second year Pittsburgh lit teal.  This year six other Pennsylvania communities joined in, 5 of them on the same night.  

Everything started with the Gulf Tower.  I was filming in the tower putting together a building spotlight of the iconic art deco treasure to support one of my favorite events, Doors Open Pittsburgh.  In conversation with my contact at the building we discussed the lit pyramid at the top of Gulf Tower which who’s different colors depict the weather.  We talked how at times they will light it specific colors for holidays and other awareness causes, also black and gold for Pittsburgh Pirate runs.  Later that year an old story about a woman, Alexandra Cutler, who at 17 years old successfully arranged to have the Mario Cuomo Bridge light teal in New York State ran across my Facebook feed.  

“The people at the Gulf Tower seem like great people, maybe they’d be willing to do it!” I thought.  Instead of saying yes they countered my offer by adding their other art deco wonder, the Koppers Building, in as a packaged deal.  Being bested by a better offer, I gladly conceded defeat.  Adding Koppers propelled me to keep going and Highmark’s Fifth Avenue Place, One Oxford Center, and 20 Stanwix joined the cause.

Living with Tourette Syndrome and other tic disorders can be isolating and traumatic for many due to social misunderstandings around these disorders. Sherrie Myers Wivell, executive directory of PATSA explains, “having the buildings light up in our designated color helps people feel more confident.  Often people with Tourette Syndrome feel stared at in public.  They hear comments and get mean looks when people notice their tics.  Having buildings light up in recognition of a diagnosis offers a positive way to talk about it.”

Pittsburgh’s business community made an impact.  Seeing these buildings light up gave people hope, helped people feel seen, made people feel accepted.  One person posted on Facebook, “This is AMAZING!!!! Maybe next year we can get Philly and other cities/towns to do this. This brings tears to my eyes!! It’s so important in spreading awareness!!!”

Challenge accepted.

Next year?  Tara Lerman of Philadelphia saw the posts from Pittsburgh in a Facebook group and took the idea on the road.  Thanks to Tara’s efforts Philadelphia lit up two buildings, One Liberty Place and Two Liberty Place at the end of the 2023.  Philadelphia joined Pittsburgh this year on the first Tuesday and, with the help of PATSA and fellow volunteer Pam Bernet, five additional municipalities, Greensburg, Johnstown, Kittanning, and Pottstown added lights to the now Pennsylvania skyline on Tuesday and the State Capital in Harrisburg will light for three days starting this evening.  Overall, seventeen buildings dressed in teal for wear teal Tuesday.  Alexandra Cutler of New York also increased her count to fifteen.

Going teal isn’t just a one night laser show to entertain some advocates.  Thanks to the generosity of our businesses and governments, PATSA received a feature story on KDKA where they could reach people to not just spread awareness about the disorder, but to reach out to parents and make them aware of the important services the organization can provide.  Tourette Syndrome awareness made it to the front page of the Leader Times, awareness made the airwaves on several Johnstown area radio stations including POP Radio 92.1.  It was featured in the Tribune Democrat in Johnstown, the Philly Voice, and on WPXI Pittsburgh.  Perhaps more importantly it shows young people with Tourette Syndrome that they aren’t alone and that people care.

“We rode all around downtown last night looking && my Tourette’s guy was amazed and so happy” one proud mom commented on one of PATSA’s posts with a picture of her child taking in the sights.

Business owners, property owners, and governments have a powerful tool at their disposal.  We take great pride in our buildings.  Wether its Greensburg, Pottstown, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, every town has at least one architectural treasure that it’s proud of.  Many of them architectural wonders of times long gone.  They don’t need to be relics to pass by and remember when.  May 21st we showed that these buildings have purpose in the now, the buildings can be used to pave the way for a more open and accepting world to come.

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For more information on Tourette Syndrome and the work of the PA Tourette Syndrome Alliance, visit patsainc.org.

List of buildings and landmarks currently lighting up on May 21st

Greensburg - Westmoreland County Courthouse

Johnstown - The Stone Bridge

Kittanning - Armstrong County Courthouse

Philadelphia - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Cirra Center + FMC Tower, One Liberty Place, Two Liberty Place

Pittsburgh - Allegheny County Courthouse, City County Building, Gulf Tower, Koppers Building, One Oxford Center, Rivers Casino

Pottstown - Pottstown Hospital - Tower Health

Lighting up May 28th through May 30th

Harrisburg - Pennsylvania State Capital

THANK YOU!

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