The 307-foot tall UT Austin Tower, designed by Paul Cret of Philadelphia, was completed in 1937. Through the years, the Tower has served as the University's most distinguishing landmark and as a symbol of academic excellence and personal opportunity.Here is an overview of how and why the Tower lighting changes.

1. Lighting of the Tower
Advisory Council Meeting
March 2009

2. Behind the Lights
Orginated by Carl J Eckhardt Jr., Head of UT Physical Plant
when the Tower was built in 1931
He supervised construction of the Tower and developed the
lighting system that took advantage of the Tower’s commanding
architectural presence
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First orange Tower lights in 1937, signaling a 9-6 football victory
that spoiled Baylor University's unbeaten season
Eckhardt help create guidelines for using orange lights on the
Tower in 1947

3. Behind the Lights
In 2001, President Faulkner appointed a committee to review
Tower lighting. New guidelines were developed:
• Lighting patterns should be distinct—
• Academic/staff achievements — white top, orange shaft
Athletics — orange top withSwhite shaft
• Tradition Orange displayed for campus-wide events
• Darkened Tower only used for solemn occasions
• Other lighting options available

4. Standard Tower
Tower entirely white
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5. White Top with Orange Shaft - Academic
Faculty Academic Achievements—
“Academic Convocation”
Student Academic Achievements—
“Honors Day”
S Staff Achievements—
“Staff Recognition Day”

6. White Top with Orange Shaft - Academic
National Championship in
Academic Team Competition
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7. Top Split – Orange and White w/Orange Shaft
Gone to Texas – welcoming new
students to campus
Other events at President’s discretion
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8. Entirely Orange Tower - Sports
Significant athletic victories
Football victories
Texas A&M victory
S Big 12 athletics championships
Student organization sports clubs
with national championships

9. Orange Tower w/ #1- Sports
Football Bowl
Championships Series
(BCS) 1 vs. 2 win
NCAA championships for
all other sports.
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Tower Lighting for
Rose Bowl National
Championship Victory
January 8, 2006

10. Orange Tower w/ #1 - Sports
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View from Gregory Gym
Rose Bowl National Championship Victory
January 8, 2006

11. Orange Tower – Campus-Wide Accolades
UT’s Birthday – September 15
Commencement
Texas Independence Day – March 2
S Other campus-wide events at
President’s discretion

12. Orange Tower w/White Shaft
Football regular season
victories, except Texas
A&M
Non-Bowl Championship
Series (BCS) Victories
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Other events at
President’s discretion

13. Orange Tower w/Special Effects
Commencement
Other occasions at
President’s discretion
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14. Dark Tower w/White Cap
UT Remembers --
Annual Memorial Service
Tower Garden Dedication
Significant Solemn
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Occasions such as
Texas A&M Bonfire Tragedy
Other Occasions at
President’s Discretion

15. Dark Tower w/White Cap
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Dark Tower
September 11, 2001

16. Orange Tower w/Special Effects
Commencement
Other occasions at
President’s discretion
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17. Orange Tower - Academic
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National RE Finance Championship
November 21, 2008
Won against Duke, The University of Chicago, Columbia, Harvard,
Yale, Wharton, UNC, MIT, Stanford, Vanderbilt and others.

18. Victory Celebration
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MBAs celebrated by climbing Mount
Adams in Washington State.