Lighting the Tower

Heeello Longhorns and all you other people interested in knowing why on earth the Tower on the University of Texas at Austin is always changing colors.

At 301 feet high, the 27-floor Tower measures six feet taller than the Texas Capitol and can be seen from almost any location in Austin.

According to TexasSports.com the lighting configurations of the tower are based on:
- Academic and staff achievements as well as athletic victories

- Celebration of campus-wide events
- UT rememberances (used only for solemn occasions)

Entirely White

Standard: Nothing exciting in the Longhorn world

Entirely Orange

• UT's Birthday - September 15
• Commencement 
• Texas Independence Day - March 2
• Texas A&M Football Victory
• Big 12 Athletic Championships - All sports

Orange Top with White Shaft

• Football regular season victories
• Football Bowl Game victories other than national championship

Tower Entirely Orange with a #1 Display

This occurs only when the Longhorns have won a National Championship

Darkened Tower with White Cap and Observation Deck

• UT Remembers (annual memorial service)
• Tower Garden dedication
• Significant solemn occasions (Ex: Texas A&M Bonfire tragedy in 1999)

Tower Entirely Orange with Special Effects

Basically anytime there are fireworks or varying numbers on the Tower that signifies commencement or any other occasion the President of UT wants to celebrate.

 

  

The pictures displayed on this blog post were taken from: 
http://www.utexas.edu/spotlight/tower_lighting.html