Editing PSFS Building (section)

== The Iconic Sign ==

=== Illumination and Visibility ===

'''Yes''', the iconic PSFS sign is illuminated at night and remains one of Philadelphia's most recognizable landmarks. The 27-foot-tall letters glow with red lights (now LED, originally neon) and can be seen from up to 20 miles away.

'''Sign History:'''
The architects initially struggled to convince the conservative PSFS building committee to accept the sign, which some considered undignified for a banking institution. Howe and Lescaze argued that the sign was integral to the building's design, hiding mechanical equipment on the roof while providing visibility from throughout the city.

The sign became the first corporate logo integrated into a skyscraper's architectural design. When the abbreviation "PSFS" was chosen, such acronyms were uncommon, but the architects recognized that the full name would be illegible from street level.

'''Sign Controversy:'''
In 1990, when the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society was placed into receivership, the federal government briefly turned off the sign. Public outrage was immediate, and the sign was restored within days.

'''Modern Updates:'''
In 2016, the original neon tubes were replaced with LED lights that replicate the neon's appearance. The new LED system can display seven different colors, though the sign typically glows in its traditional red.