Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower

Transcription

[Music starts…] >> Geoffrey: When the building was originally designed, the architects had given our operations folks some ideas on how we might be able to use the exterior south face of the building for billboarding activities. When Walter Payton passed, we were able to do our first display, the number 34 on the building. We’ve done over 60 different types of displays over the years. We will do some things that people are really intrigued. “How do you do that? That’s so cool! They think there is really complicated technology behind it. It really just boils down to manual labor and good creativity. >> Mike: Hi, I’m Mike Rallo, and I’m the guy who turns the BCBS building into a billboard. How did you do it? Is there a computer program? No, there’s not a computer program. We just draw it up and, you know, let it rip after that. I’m making an “O”. There are 50 windows across the south face of the building. We use all 50 windows on however many floors we need. I will number them as I go - close 3, open 4, close 5, open 6. >> James: I’m James Aillo. I’m one of the electricians who pulls the shades at Blue Cross. We close shades from the 51st floor down to the third floor. Typically, its anywhere from 10 - 15 minutes a floor, and we usually Mike will give everybody anywhere from 10 - 12 floors. [Sound of shade closing] >> Mike: All the south side lights on the building are overridden to stay on all night from a computer. This is my lighting computer where all my lights are programmed. I click on my lighting controls. This is how I override the lights. >> Mike: We do get a lot of people who don’t want their windows touched. People tend to lift them up behind us. >> James: You don’t want make a mistake or be the guy that makes a mistake. Fortunately, we got a guy at night, and if there is a mistake, he usually heads out and looks and makes sure that the sign’s displayed right. >> Kevin: I’m Kevin Eatinger, and I shoot the Blue Cross Blue Shield building lights. There’s always somebody they stop they look at the camera and then they’re looking at the building to see exactly what I’m photographing. It’s a lot of fun. I definitely see people using the building as a backdrop. BCBS is definitely part of the landscape of Chicago. >> Mike: Usually when you’re watching the Bears game on TV and they show it, usually even my children will say – Dad – there’s your building! >> James: I like displaying something on the building and knowing we were a part of it. >> Geoffrey: Using the billboarding on the building allows us another opportunity to really get our wellness message out there to our customers, to the city of Chicago, and anybody that may be visiting this wonderful city. [Music ends]