Property’s Morning Obsession: Brandywine Realty Trust’s Love of Pong

Philadelphia has made the national news again–and this time it has nothing to do with a restaurant called Chink’s. Now the country is talking about the giant game of Pong that will be recreated on the facade of the Cira Centre for Philly Tech Week.

For those who don’t remember Pong or haven’t enjoyed its retro recurrence in recent years, it’s basically the simplest video game in history, first demoed by Atari in 1972. It may be this incredibly basic premise and presentation that makes it perfect for the side of a 29-story mirrored high-rise–we’ll find out when players gather at the Art Museum and play the game with giant joysticks.

The idea was dreamed up by a Drexel professor, naturally, who told the AP, “Pong is a cultural icon, cultural milestone. This is my love letter to the wonders of technology as seen through the eyes of my childhood.” Professor Frank Lee, you have just aged yourself.

One of the greatest things about this project for real estate junkies is that though Lee had been thinking about this for years, it couldn’t happen until the owners of the Cira Centre, Brandywine Realty Trust, got involved (apparently there were “kindred spirits” there). We find that rather moving. Sure, it’s not like the Trust is Doctors Without Borders, but how often do publicly held real estate companies bring underdog geeky dreams to life? The gamers of the world thank you, Brandywine Trust.

• Philly pong: City gets ready to play iconic game on building facade [Fox News]
• Cira Centre Pong Lottery

Each morning we start the day with Property’s Morning Obsession—anything from staging to woodwork to the fragment of a building. Want to submit your morning obsession? Send us an email.