Illuminate Chicago Lighting Program
Illuminate Chicago Information
Chicago has the world-wide reputation as the "Windy City" and the home of the first skyscraper. But all Chicago residents know and can easily envision the true gem of our city – the Chicago skyline and our beautiful buildings that light up the night.
BOMA/Chicago Building Members include all of the city’s iconic office buildings that comprise our skyline. This is why many organizations reach out to us in regards to lighting up the skyline for their various civic and philanthropic causes.
In an effort to assist our members with the multitude of light requests they receive on a monthly basis, BOMA/Chicago created the Illuminate Chicago Lighting Program. This program allows BOMA/Chicago to collect and review all light requests and subsequently provide our members with light recommendations. It is important to note that all of our Building Members are independently owned and managed and that BOMA/Chicago does not mandate that Building Members light up for the initiatives we approve.
Buildings are reminded to abide by our Lights Out Chicago program to avoid bird collisions by extinguishing decorative lighting on rooftops and upper floors by 11 p.m. each night during Spring and Fall migration seasons.
Submit an Illuminate Chicago Application
BOMA/Chicago’s building lighting program, Illuminate Chicago, was created nearly a decade ago to coordinate building lighting opportunities to support civic and charitable causes. We invite you to review the Illuminate Chicago requirements. If you meet all of these requirements, you can apply to have your request approved. The application can be accessed here. Please note that there is a $100 non-refundable administrative fee for organizations submitting light requests.
If you have any questions about this application, please contact Rob Johnson, Director of Civic Engagement, at rjohnson@bomachicago.org or 312-870-9600.
Upcoming Requests
Holiday Season and New Year
Dates: December 15, 2024 - January 2, 2025
Colors: Red, Green, and White
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org
Dry January® USA - Go YELLOW in January
Sponsor: Meharry Medical College
Dates: January 7, 2025 - January 13, 2025
Colors: Yellow
Phrase: Dry January
Contact: Michael Caldwell at mccaldwell@mmc.edu
Website: www.meharryresearch.org/dry-january-usa
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Dates: January 17, 2025 - January 20, 2025
Colors: Blue
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org
International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27)
Sponsor: Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago
Dates: January 25, 2025 - January 27, 2025
Colors: Yellow
Contact: Daniel Goldwin at DanielGoldwin@juf.org
Website: www.juf.org
World Kidney Day
Sponsor: National Kidney Foundation of Illinois
Dates: March 6, 2025 - March 13, 2025
Colors: Orange
Phrase: Kidney Month
Contact: Sara Jane Castro at SJCastro@nkfi.org
Website: www.nkfi.org
MS Awareness Day
Sponsor: National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Dates: March 9, 2025 - March 15, 2025
Colors: Orange
Phrase: END MS
Contact: Rachel Gardner at Rachel.Gardner@nmss.org
Website: www.nationalmssociety.org
St. Patrick's Day (March 17)
Dates: March 14, 2025 - March 17, 2025
Colors: Green
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org
Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters (May 4)
Sponsor: National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Dates: May 2, 2025 - May 5, 2025
Colors: Red
Contact: Donna Clark at DClark@firehero.org
Website: www.firehero.org
Memorial Day (May 26)
Dates: May 23, 2025 - May 26, 2025
Colors: Red
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org
Pride Month
Dates: Month of June 2025
Colors: Rainbow
Phrase: PRIDE
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org
World FSHD Day
Sponsor: FSHD Society
Dates: June 18, 2025 - June 21, 2025
Colors: Orange
Phrase: Cure FSHD
Contact: Kim Shanley at Kim.Shanley@fshdsociety.org
Website: www.fshdsociety.org
Juneteenth (June 19th)
Dates: June 19, 2025 - June 22, 2025
Colors: Red
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org
Independence Day (July 4th)
Dates: July 3, 2025 - July 6, 2025
Colors: Red, White, and Blue
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org
Labor Day (September 1)
Dates: August 29, 2025 - September 1, 2025
Colors: Red, White, and Blue
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org
Hispanic Heritage Month
Dates: September 15, 2025 - October 15, 2025
Colors: Orange
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org
Halloween
Dates: October 29, 2025 - November 1, 2025
Colors: Orange
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org
Holiday Season and New Year
Dates: December 14, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Colors: Red, Green, and White
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org