Twelve years ago, Technical.ly collaborated with Drexel University professor Frank Lee and got into the Guinness Book of World Records. In celebration of America 250, we’re doing it again — and you’re invited.
Come play the world’s largest video game on the side of a Philadelphia skyscraper!
To help commemorate the US Semiquincentennial with innovation, games and visualizations developed by area middle school students and inspired by democracy and trust will be on display. Enter to win your chance to play (click the link or use the form at the end of this article).
The May 8 event will close out Philly Tech Week, now organized by 1Philadelphia, and our own Builders Conference
The lottery is open until 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday, April 26. If selected, you’ll have 48 hours to confirm your participation, or we’ll draw again and ask a different person. You must be on site to play.
At our core as a local news organization, Technical.ly is focused on how places tell their story of innovation and invention. As our cofounder-publisher, I became obsessed 15 years ago once I heard my friend Frank Lee, who leads Drexel’s game design program, mention how in theory the outside architectural lights of the 29-story Cira Centre adjacent to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station could be controlled dynamically.
I threw myself into helping Frank’s vision come true, which first happened in 2013 and 2014, thanks to the open-mindedness of Jerry Sweeney, the CEO of Brandywine Reality, the developer-owner of Cira Centre.
Thousands of people came out, and tons of national media coverage followed (which became part of Philly tech lore and advanced a Philly tech identity). But producing the event around the spectacle was an overwhelming (and costly) affair. Lee and I set the skyscraper video-gaming spectacle aside, and went on to other collaborations, including displaying community social messages during the pandemic.
With 2026 marking the country’s 250th anniversary, Technical.ly wanted to inject the future into a commemoration of the past. We helped develop vision statements for the ecosystems we serve, and have one more lasting contribution for our founding city of Philadelphia. But we wanted one splashy memory-maker too.
So we got the band back together. Thanks to Lee and Brandywine and 1PHL, we’re helping close out the 17th annual Philly Tech Week in style.
What game will we play? At least one will be developed by a local middle school group, and there may be surprises in store too.
Come watch the spectacle as 1Philadelphia hosts a big free open party at Drexel Square with the new Gather Food Hall, right outside 30th Street Station. See you there.