The ball never drops in Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve

Forget Times Square’s glitzy descent into the new year. In Pittsburgh, we’re not about dropping things — certainly not our spirits. Instead, we raise a 1,000-pound, eco-friendly marvel into the night sky, celebrating the dawn of a new year and a brighter future. Meet the Future of Pittsburgh Ball, the city’s unconventional, sustainable, and distinctly uplifting answer to the end-of-year revelry.

Highmark First Night Pittsburgh, a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, transforms Downtown into a 14-block party with music, magic, parades, and fireworks for six hours on New Year’s Eve. Instead of the usual “oops, we dropped it” tradition, the Future of Pittsburgh Ball climbs into the sky at midnight.

“It’s a symbol of hope and success,” Paul Levine, the architect who created the ball, tells Pittsburgh City Paper.

A Bright Idea

Before the ball debuted in 2007, Pittsburgh’s First Night celebrations, hosted by the Cultural Trust, was a fun family event with a timing problem. “Everything fizzled out around 10 p.m.,” Levine recalls. The Trust, alongside sponsor Highmark, wanted a dramatic finale to keep revelers engaged until midnight. They were looking for a way to keep the party going — something with a bit more pizazz, a physical manifestation of the city’s optimism and growth. Highmark commissioned Burt Hill (now of Stantec), to create this one-of-a-kind piece.

This was Pittsburgh, a city on the rise, and the idea of something “falling” didn’t sit right. Levine, then an architect at Burt Hill, had a lightbulb moment during a morning brainstorming session. “New Year’s is about hope for the next year, hope for the future,” he explains. “The ball should represent the future of Pittsburgh.”

Inspired by the city’s iconic geography, the design took the form of Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers, wrapping around a glowing, translucent crystal ball. Raising the ball rather than lowering it wasn’t just symbolic — it was practical, too. “The ball was designated to be at the corner of Stanwix and Penn, atop the iconic Highmark Christmas Tree. With people congregating along Penn Avenue, I was concerned they wouldn’t be able to see it unless it was at the top of the pole. Raising the ball for maximum visibility at the peak of the evening made sense — and became Raising the Future of Pittsburgh,” says Levine.

Levine shared the concept with his team, including David Alessi, who was also a key part of this project at Burt Hill (Alessi is now a Senior Associate at Stantec). “Paul said, ‘What if instead of dropping the ball — which feels kind of … defeatist, we raise it?’” recalls Alessi. “It was genius. Dropping the ball sounded like losing in a game. Raising it? That’s winning, that’s succeeding. It fit Pittsburgh perfectly.”

Thus, the Future of Pittsburgh Ball was born.

Eco-Friendly and Iconically Pittsburgh

Creating a ball to ascend 74 feet atop Penn Avenue Place wasn’t exactly a walk in Point Park. The team faced challenges in both design and logistics. Atlantic Engineering Services designed the structural platform and flagpole support, while Hilbish McGee handled lighting. Fabrication required precision, and Technique Architectural Products, led by Ray Appleby, brought this complex, dynamic design to life.

“Technique Architectural Products developed a series of motorized winches, pulleys, and rollers that made the whole thing work seamlessly. Everything was tested repeatedly to ensure it worked,” Alessi notes. “You don’t want a ball that gets stuck halfway up!”

Installation involved a coordinated effort by Technique Architectural Products, Century Steel Erectors, and Oxford Development Company.

Crafted from 3form Ecoresin, a trademarked translucent material made from post-consumer content, the ball is a nod to Pittsburgh’s commitment to sustainability. Recycled steel and aluminum frame its structure, while over 1,000 energy-efficient LEDs bring it to life with a rainbow of colors — 64 billion combinations, to be exact. The green lines symbolize the Three Rivers, tying the design to the city’s geography and environmental focus.

“The ball’s materials and design reflect Pittsburgh’s forward-thinking approach,” Kannu Sahni, Highmark’s vice president of community affairs, tells City Paper. “It’s about celebrating the new year while honoring Pittsburgh’s resilience and ingenuity.”

The city will see a newly refurbished Future of Pittsburgh Ball this year. But what exactly has been revamped? That’s under wraps until New Year’s Eve.

A Tradition Takes Flight

The ball first ascended into the Pittsburgh skyline on Dec. 31, 2006, as fireworks illuminated the night. Alessi admits being nervous during the hours leading up to the countdown. “As architects, we typically design structures that are to remain stable, and not move. Seeing the Ball being successfully raised for the first time in 2007, with cheers and enjoyment of the crowd gathered to experience it, was absolutely thrilling.”

Since then, the tradition has become a staple of the city’s cultural identity. For nearly two decades, it’s marked the turning of the year with a unique mix of community pride and architectural brilliance. “It gives me great pleasure to have been a part of the project and that it’s still the main event,” says Levine.

The Heart of the Celebration

Since its inaugural ascent, the raising of the Future of Pittsburgh Ball has become the pièce de résistance of Highmark First Night, a tradition that attracts thousands to Downtown Pittsburgh annually. Kannu Sahni highlights the event’s community-driven spirit. “The Pittsburgh community is the heart of First Night. Without their active participation, it wouldn’t be the vibrant celebration it is today.”

For Levine and Alessi, it’s a legacy moment. “Despite the challenges our city faces, the raising of the ball is a powerful symbol of hope and progress,” says Alessi.

And for Pittsburghers, it’s a reminder that their city doesn’t just shine — it soars.