Comcast Center: Reflections on city light

Steve Ives, (who you might know as Flickr user phillytrax), is one of the most frequent and fabulous contributors to the Eyes on the Street Flickr group. He snapped this photo near 17th and Chestnut, and described the reflection he captured on January 20: Comcast Center is located three blocks north of this intersection. The building’s glass is specially coated to reflect excess heat and light but one curious aspect of that is just how much light it reflects and how intensely. During summer sunrises/sunsets, if you’re standing directly in the path of reflection (east or west depending on the time of day) it can be downright uncomfortable – about 10 degrees warmer than the surrounding air within a distance of a few blocks. During the winter, when the sun is at a sharper angle in the southern sky, the building’s reflection of light can illuminate corners that never see direct sunlight. This is what happened here. Show us what your Philly looks like by sharing your photos with the Eyes on the Street Flickr group too.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal