Downtown Grand Rapids Building Honors Kobe Bryant

One of the tallest buildings in downtown Grand Rapids is paying homage to basketball legend Kobe Bryant.

Bryant and his daughter Gianna; Alyssa, John, and Keri Altobelli; Payton and Sarah Chester; Christina Mauser; and Ara Zobayan tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

The Varnum Building on Bridge Street has changed its lights to purple and gold in honor of Kobe's 20-year career with the L.A. Lakers, Fox 17 reports.

Varnum Executive Partner Scott Hill tells Fox 17,

"We don’t change our sign very often, it’s for causes that we support and we just felt that it was the right thing to do... He impacted a lot of different people in different ways, one of the best basketball players ever certainly, so on the athletic side he was a hard worker, great performer great success he had. But also on the business side outside of basketball, after his retirement he showed great signs of success there too. Most importantly his family, his help with young people and touching the community he lived in was really impressive."

A billboard along I-96 in Grand Rapids pays tribute with a picture of Kobe Bryant along with one word: Legend.

Little Caesar's Arena in Detroit has also been lit with purple and gold this week in tribute.