Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Times Square Brightens Up With 17-Story Walgreen Sign
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 20, 2008
Modified Nov 20, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 20, 2008
Modified Nov 20, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Drab and dreary old Times Square is finally going to get some razzle dazzle starting tonight when a massive 17,000-square-foot, three-sided diagonal LED sign is turned on at 1 Times Square, right where the New Year's ball drops. Designed by D3 LED to promote the Walgreen's flagship location—not to mention other publicity-deprived corporations like Kraft, Johnson & Johnson, and Colgate—the "spectacular" display runs off almost 30 computers and uses 12 million energy efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Within the sign are 13 big plasma screens displaying "coordinated, dynamic content." You are powerless to resist!
There are also smaller plasma screens inside the store that will be coordinated with the outside displays for a grand total of 29 synergistic surfaces, adding up to an anticipated 1.6 million impressions a day. And according to the Times, you may want to wear sunglasses when gazing upon its glory, because the sign will produce 8,000 "nits" of brightness. That's quite a bit of nits; a typical LCD display creates about 200. The average power used is 250KW, and could soar up to one megawatt depending on the imagery being created.
"We created a display that virtually reaches out and grabs the attention of consumers—from those 15 feet away to those halfway across the world," said Jason Barak of D3 LED, in a statement that tactfully edited out his maniacal laughter.
Tagged
biggest
d3
display
huge
LED
light
new
new york
nyc
plasma
screens
sign
spectacular
Times Square
walgreens
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
Don't be surprised if you run into someone from your building in Beacon.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
Published Oct 24, 2026 at 10:46 a.m. ET
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
The woman is in stable condition, police said, but several people were stabbed.
By
Ryan Kost
News
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
The woman is in stable condition, police said, but several people were stabbed.
By
Ryan Kost
3 slates vying to run Jersey City school board as city stares down major tax hikes
By
Michael Sol Warren
5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases
By
Charles Lane
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
By
Charles Lane
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .