When you head uptown, you expect the skyscrapers to impress you. But, you don’t expect them to sing to you. Yet, that’s exactly what the 7th Street Station parking garage does.

When the deck opened in 1998, the team behind it wanted to add a little wonder to the building. 7th Street Station is accented by more than 400 colored panels and 30 plexiglass fins that soar to 30 feet and light up, as well as 30 sensor pads below. When you touch the pads, they emit sounds, light and, sometimes, laughter. (We’re not advocating touching the pads, mind you, unless you use your elbow. This was long before COVID-19.)

All of this is part of “Touch My Building,” an interactive work of public art by Christopher Janney. He created it to disrupt passersby in a surprising and playful way, encouraging them to interact with the architecture of the building … and each other.

Like a clock, the building “plays” on the hour. A 10-inch plaque on the side of the deck presents a riddle. If you solve it, the building responds with a special sound and light show.

BONUS!

Seventh Street Station is also the site of a special installation of “Love, Charlotte” giant, 8-foot-wide postcards created by Charlotte-based artists. The giant postcards are waiting for you (and your camera) outside 7th Street Public Market starting this weekend. Swing by, see them up close and take photos. Then, pop into the market for a treat.

After dark, take the light rail to SouthEnd for the “I HEART Rail Trail” light art exhibition, which will be up through March 7.

The “Love, Charlotte” installation features work from Garrison Gist, Tim Parati, Sana Nisar, Euli, KiiK Create and Amber Thompson. It was sponsored by Charlotte Center City Partners.

Some information for this story was sourced from WFAE.