Curious CBUS Nationwide YOUTUBE.mp4 >>> WOSU's Curious Cbus answers your questions about our region, its history and its people.

If you're in downtown Columbus after dark, one holiday tradition you can't miss is the light up message on Nationwide's 40 story skyscraper.

A curious viewer wrote in with this question.

How did the happy holiday lights on the Nationwide Insurance building come about?

And how do they coordinate turning the office lights on and off?

To get an answer, we asked the folks at Nationwide to shed some light on how the tradition started.

>>> So Nationwide released the first Happy Holidays message on the one Nationwide Plaza building in 1977.

So that was 47 years ago, and that was actually a year before the building had its official grand opening.

The tradition continued for the next 47 years, and we've done it every year since then.

The idea behind it is that it's a positive message.

It's a message that all of Columbus visitors and and citizens can get behind and support, as is all of our messages that we post on our building.

Our tradition for creating holidays at display actually predates the one Nationwide Plaza building.

The first time we did it was actually in 1971 when we occupied our previous headquarters building, which is 246 North High Street building.

It's actually the building that's across the street where we are today.

>>> I think there's been a great response from the community over the years to the messaging.

I think at this time of year it starts to get dark.

And I think it's a very visible reminder that the holiday season has begun.

>>> One nationwide plaza building is such a prominent component of the downtown Columbus skyline that posting the Happy Holidays display has inspired other organizations to post their own displays publicly.

>>> So we have a team of about 4 to 5 people that initially install the display at the beginning of the holiday season, adjusting the blinds and installing the cardboard over 648 windows.

When the tradition first began, we didn't have the building automation systems that we do today.

And so the lighting on each floor was done manually.

Now, with building automation systems, we're able to control the lighting and set the time when the lights on each floor stay on and turn off.

Because Nationwide Associates are using the space throughout the day and sometimes adjust the blinds.

We do use our building automation systems to control the lights ultimately when it gets dark.

And then each night we have our security team go through each floor and make sure that the blinds and the cardboard are in place in case associates of adjusted them throughout the day.

>>> Our building as a significant piece of the Columbia skyline.

And this message is a really positive message that I think adds a lot of value to the city.

>>> Do you have a question for Curious Cbus?

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