Does anyone know why Vancouver's lovely skyline is becoming darker? Property managers of some of Vancouver's most famous landmarks seem to have let maintenance slide quite a bit, and it really shows. Among the things I've recently noticed:

1. Royal Centre seems to be removing the big, illuminated RBC logos at the top of the building and replacing them with cheap, tacky plastic tarps advertising the Paralympic Games. Not only are the tarps visually unappealing, the lettering on them is impossible to read without binoculars.

2. The TD logo on south-facing part of the TD Canada Trust Tower at Bentall Centre has been dark for over a year now, even though the logos on the other three sides are fine. In addition, all the logos on that tower go dark after midnight, even though the logos on the BMO building stay on all night (tacky as they are, what with the switch to a new logo).

3. The Bell logo that used to be on Bentall 5 is no longer there.

4. The west-facing "S" on the Scotia tower has been missing a bulb for months now.

5. The logo on the TD Tower at 700 West Georgia is clearly missing a few bulbs, too.

6. The HSBC logo on top of 775 West Georgia is barely visible at night.

7. The roof of Cathedral Place is no longer illuminated at night.

These are all quite small issues, but when taken together, they really do reflect a lack of disregard for the image of our city. Skyscrapers define every major city, and here we are letting them slide into disrepair.

On a totally unrelated topic, what's up with those awful fences that they've put around the courthouse at Robson Square? They make the place look like San Quentin. Thank goodness, at least, that they've decided to scrap the horrible wooden "Shell" that Gordon Campbell wanted to put over Robson Square and the Art Gallery.

The lights issue is easy to answer, office towers usally have their windows cleaned 3-4 times a year, so you're looks at every 3 months or so. Those lights are only changed during window cleanings as it not cost effective to so any other time. That is why it's not unusual to see lights out for months at a time, and that is when it's just a simple tube to be replaced, If it turns out to be a ballast they might need to bring in an electrician next time, so that could be 6 months since it went out. Doesn't answer all your questions but it should give you a better idea.

3. The Bell logo that used to be on Bentall 5 is no longer there.


bell moved out to east broadway and rupert

you can think of this problem in another light.. less illumination = less energy consumption = a more sustainable city :p

Thanks, jlousa, for the info. I didn't think of the logistics. And I didn't know that Bell had moved out. Why would they leave such a prime location?

As for sustainability, that's so yesterday :) Appearance is what matters. Surely these lights don't take up much electricity. If the property managers really want to save on energy, they can turn off the regular office lights (unless, of course, there really ARE that many people working hard after hours!). Turning off the signage is sad because, from afar, they really do help define the skyline.

BTW, does anyone know whether the Shangri-La building will have a big illuminated "S" at the top?

As for sustainability, that's so yesterday :) Appearance is what matters.

Correction: tomorrow.

Actually, those lights are huge consumers...relatively. For example, you can decrease your personal energy consumption by 10% just by unplugging your unused appliances (like dvd players and vcrs) that have that standby LED light. You can also save 10% if you were to NOT leave your chargers plugged to the wall.

Imagine then how much we'd save if buildings didn't leave their lights on. I know, I'd rather see a brilliant skyline at night - but even dazzling sights like in Shanghai or Hong Kong go dark after a certain hour.

Actually, those lights are huge consumers...relatively. For example, you can decrease your personal energy consumption by 10% just by unplugging your unused appliances (like dvd players and vcrs) that have that standby LED light. You can also save 10% if you were to NOT leave your chargers plugged to the wall.

Imagine then how much we'd save if buildings didn't leave their lights on. I know, I'd rather see a brilliant skyline at night - but even dazzling sights like in Shanghai or Hong Kong go dark after a certain hour.

Look like someone's on Team PowerSmart :lol:

I'm all for turning lights off after midnight, but during early evening is a bit strange. Vancouver's whole raison d'etre is its beauty, natural and man-made alike. When we start turning off the lights left, right and centre, I think we lose quite a bit of the beauty.

If the iconic towers go back to turning their lights on, I will personally do what I can to conserve electricity and live in the dark for a year. Actually, I already pretty well live in the dark, using the Wall Centre's huge rooftop light to help me find my way to the bathroom at night.

- but even dazzling sights like in Shanghai or Hong Kong go dark after a certain hour.

The Shanghai lights all went dark simultaneously at 10:00 pm sharp.

I didn't see much of a light show in Hong Kong - apparently it's only on at 8:00 pm.

Yeah, I thought that was a bit disappointing as a travelller but it did make me feel 'good' that they would turn it all off like that. I had wanted to see the lights later in the evening as to avoid the huge crowds but I got there a little too late - it's also kinda scary being in a foreign place (well, not really foreign seeing as I am of chinese descent)and then the lights in the streets turn off. haha.

in hong kong though, a lot of the lights that are left on are at least LEDs or compact flurorescents.