When and Where to Capture the Empire State Building Illuminated Blue for Columbia Grads in 2025
The night of May 21, the Empire State Building will glow blue for #Columbia2025 grads. Here’s where to capture the best photos with it.
It’s a Columbia tradition not to be missed: On the night of May 21, from sunset until 2:00 am (EDT), the top of New York’s iconic Empire State Building will light up in blue to honor Columbia’s graduates.
But where best to capture photos of and with the Empire State Building? For their favorite spots, we asked the experts: University Photographer Eileen Barroso (who has been taking photos of our grads with the building for years) and previous Columbia grads.
The Empire State Building welcomes graduates to get tickets to celebrate the lighting up close on the 86th floor of the ESB's NYC Observatory Deck.
And don’t forget! If you aren’t able to be there in person or get out and about to take your pictures, you can always observe the celebration of our grads on the Empire State Building Live Stream.
Over the years, we've found some great spots to take your photos the night of Commencement:
34th Street and 7th Avenue
36th Street and 5th Avenue
Summit One Vanderbilt
Bryant Park
Gilded Lady Mural, 236 Fifth Avenue
230 Fifth Rooftop, 1150 Broadway
DUMBO, Water & Washington Streets, Brooklyn
Weehawken, NJ Boulevard East
The Empire State Building image ® is a registered trademark of ESRT Empire State Building, L.L.C. and is used with permission.