Federal Heath (Euless, TX) is retrofitting Boston’s iconic CITGO sign with 9,000 linear ft. (218,000 actual LED lights) of SloanLED’s (Ventura, CA) LEDStripe. Federal Heath is applying vinyl to the LEDs to match Citgo’s corporate colors, so that they will appear the same during the day and evening. The sign is scheduled to be operational late August or September.
The new lights on the double-sided, 60 x 60-ft. square sign, said to be the largest sign in New England, are specially designed to flex so they can withstand high winds and extreme temperature variations that the sign is exposed to in Boston s variable climate.
Prior to the sign’s unveiling, the Barnes & Noble @ Boston University Bookstore is giving away a poster and bookmark detailing the sign’s history to inform people why the sign is going "dark" for a month. The sign occupies the roof of the building in Kenmore Square that houses the bookstore on the ground floor.
The bookmark notes that, ever since 1965, the Citgo sign has established itself in the hearts on Bostonians as it sat on its perch. Red Sox fans see the sign if they’re gazing towards leftfield. Marathoners know they’re nearing the end of the race when they see the sign.
When Citgo wanted to demolish the sign in 1983, the people of Boston rescued it as urban neon art and a city landmark.