NBA ALL‑STAR WEEKEND: LASERS ON THE TRANSAMERICA PYRAMID
Lasers on the Skyline
When the NBA All‑Star Weekend rolled into San Francisco in 2025, league organizers wanted the entire city to feel like part of the celebration. In addition to events inside arenas, they launched a “Light Up the Bay” campaign to highlight landmarks across the region. The campaign’s show‑stopping climax transformed the Transamerica Pyramid – an 853‑foot icon of the San Francisco skyline – into a towering lasers beacon of basketballs and stars. High‑powered laser projections mapped onto the building’s east face created dynamic beams and colorful imagery that climbed the full height of the structure. For two nights during All‑Star weekend, the Pyramid became a “star” in its own right, visible from miles away and reminding residents and visitors alike that the NBA’s biggest party was in town.
Bringing the Vision to Life
Turning a skyscraper into a living canvas required a blend of creative vision and precision engineering. PRECISION partnered with A3 Visual and property developer Michael Shvo to design and execute one of the largest laser mapping project in the United States. Using dozens of custom PRECISION laser projectors, the team covered the Pyramid’s triangular façade with crisp laser graphics that illuminated the building’s unique architecture. The lasers painted basketballs and stars in the NBA All‑Star colors across the façade, animating patterns that spanned up and down the 853‑foot face, turning the skyline into a giant animated art piece.
Purpose & Objectives
The Transamerica laser display served strategic goals for the NBA and the City of San Francisco. By projecting NBA‑themed animations onto a beloved local landmark, the league created a city‑wide beacon that amplified All‑Star Weekend’s presence. This “billboard in the sky” captured the attention of residents and visitors across the Bay and reinforced that All‑Star festivities had arrived. Organizers also viewed the laser show as a tribute to San Francisco’s identity, merging basketball culture with the city’s own icons. Importantly, the free, public display offered fans without tickets a way to participate and generated social media buzz that extended beyond the arenas. City officials noted that such activations contributed to the festive atmosphere and economic impact expected from hosting the NBA All‑Star Weekend.
Reception & Impact
The laser takeover quickly became one of the defining images of the 2025 NBA All‑Star Weekend. Locals and visitors described the illuminated Pyramid as “dazzling” and “spectacular,” marveling at how familiar skyline lines were recast in multicolored lasers. Media coverage echoed that enthusiasm: the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Pyramid “hosted a spectacular laser show” with “colorful precision laser projections after sunset.” SFGate remarked that San Francisco’s night sky had become a “celestial billboard,” highlighting the Transamerica laser show as an All‑Star attraction. These glowing reviews and widespread social media shares underscored how the installation extended All‑Star excitement beyond the court, turning a skyscraper into a symbol of the event.
Legacy & Takeaway
By animating one of San Francisco’s most recognizable structures, the NBA and its partners demonstrated how creative use of lasers can transform a cityscape and deepen audience engagement. The Transamerica skyscraper laser show proved that large‑scale laser mapping can drive brand visibility, celebrate local culture and create memorable experiences for fans. For PRECISION, the project showcased the versatility of laser projection at architectural scale and reinforced its reputation as a leader in high‑impact civic activations.
Partner With Us
If you’re dreaming of turning a landmark into a beacon of lasers, PRECISION can make it happen. We invite you to contact us to book a studio visit or explore how laser mapping and projection can transform your next campaign. Let’s elevate your project from concept to city‑wide experience.