London has shut off the lights at the Piccadilly Circus for renovation, which will be the longest time that the lights have been turned off since World War II.
The renovation starting this week will replace six of the current billboards with one single digital screen that will be linked to wi-fi so that they can show live events as well as ads. The appearance of the screen is expected to look very similar to before in an attempt to keep the well-known aesthetic.
The Land Securities portfolio manager Vasiliki Arvaniti released a statement about the move.
“This is a huge day for Piccadilly lights and though it will be a strange feeling to see them go dark, we’re incredibly excited about their future. There have been illuminated advertising signs at Piccadilly Circus for more than a century, and the new state-of-the-art screen we’re installing will stay true to its tradition as a site for advertising innovation by offering brands pioneering new ways to connect to the 100 million people who pass by each year.”
