The windows of SMU’s Expressway Tower were dark on a cold Thursday night, reflecting only the light from Dallas’ skyline until a 49-foot-wide, 26-foot-tall bright red Peruna illuminated itself for the first time in honor of SMU’s centennial.

The lighting of the cupola on the Blanton Student Services Building and the cupola of the Armstrong Residential Commons joined the lighting of Peruna.

Robert Bucker, assistant vice president for strategic affairs, said Peruna and the two cupolas will be lit bright white whenever the Mustangs have a game at home and will turn bright red if the Mustangs win.

“If [people] see Peruna white, up on that building that means you better hang around because something big is going on,” said Bucker.

The idea for Peruna has been under discussion for nine months, including four months where the end of Peruna’s tail and the tip of Peruna’s nose were placed on the side of expressway tower to measure the length of the giant pony.

Bucker said Peruna will be lit for all home games and special events, such as graduation weekend, family weekend and homecoming weekend.

Bill Vanderstraaten, alumnus and former president of the alumni board, proposed the idea to light up SMU landmarks by saying “if they can light up the UT tower bright orange, then we can light up our domes bright red,” according to Bucker.

The large, metal Peruna with LED lights was funded by a group of SMU alumni, while the Blanton family provided funding for the Blanton Student Services Building and the Armstrong family provided funding for the Armstrong Residential Commons.

Peruna and the cupola’s are part of a larger master plan for the lighting of buildings on campus, including the ability to light the entire Blanton Student Services Building red or white by Homecoming 2015 and the lighting of Dallas Hall by the end of SMU’s centennial.

“That’s going to be our gift to future generations,” said Bucker.