On a Friday night, when Broad Street is usually bustling with people rushing to get somewhere, most were content to simply to stop and stare at the work of art that the Avenue of the Arts has become.
"I think it's beautiful," said Laurie Guerrier. "Everyone has stopped in their tracks to come and look at this."
City Hall's famed spire, the geographic center of Philadelphia, was the center of attention, the literal backdrop for a lightshow of literally epic proportions.
The show, coinciding with the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, was designed to showcase the city in its best light, and leave its audience with more than just a memory.
"This is a destination city," says Alfred Borden, "This is so much more than what people think it is, and we want people to come away with a new image."
Alfred Borden is a principal of The Lighting Practice, which, along with some University of the Arts students, spent months conceptualizing, then carrying out the show; a depiction of the city's rich history in lights and music.
And the scene had humble beginnings, starting with simple sketches on a bulletin board.
"And from there we kind of just took it and listened to the music, and went with it," said Nathan Schlegel.
Those images were transformed into a spectacular display, using two massive speakers, hundreds of lights on 14 buildings, spread over five city blocks, with City Hall as the centerpiece.
A moving display the creators hope move city viewers and visitors.
"People day to day very busy and kind of tuned out, and we want them to tune back in for a second," says University of the Arts student Evan Liegh. "That's a really important part of it."
Though many of these buildings are lit year round, City Hall being a welcome addition makes it truly special.
Some hope to see the light display become permanent. For now, it's temporary.
