Iconic Seattle Space Needle Received Renovations in 2018, Moving Closer to 1962 Futuristic Concept

Space Needle. Seattle, WA.

It’s hard to envision Seattle without thinking of its iconic symbol, the Space Needle. The beloved monument was originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair, hosted by Seattle with the space-age theme ofCentury 21. Given its futuristic theme, it’s logical that the structure would continue to fascinate the public for60 years, and counting. In 2018, the “Century Project”renovations were completed, preserving the Space Needle and further bringing to life its mid-century concept with the aid of modern day technologies. The original concept was the vision of Edward E. Carlson, chief organizer of the 1962 World’s Fair. It’s said that Carlson, inspired by the Stuttgart Tower on a trip to Germany, sketched a giant balloon tethered to the ground on a napkin. This sketch evolved into the idea of a needle-like lounge in the sky though his collaborations. Lead architect, John Graham focused on the saucer-like top and structural engineer, Victor Steinbrueck refined the tower’s wasp-waisted design- inspired by the wooden abstract sculpture, “The Feminine One” by Dave Lemon. The 605’ structure was privately funded, costing $4.5 million, and was built on a 120’ x 120’ parcel of land in the 74 acre Seattle Center, at the foot of Queen Anne Hill. Construction took approx 400 days and at completion it was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River- surpassing Seattle’s Smith Tower. The structure’s “Top House” included observation platforms, offering views of Seattle’s skyline and its stunning natural setting, showcasing Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains to the West and the Cascade Mountains to the East with the prominent Mount Rainer and Mount Baker. The “Top House” also included a revolving restaurant, which completed onefull rotation each hour. The original structure was built to withstand winds up to 200 mph, or category 5 hurricane force winds, and earthquakes of 9.0 magnitude. This stability was accomplished by digging a foundation the entire width of the site (120’) and 30’ deep. The foundation’s weight equaled that of the original aboveground structure (5,850 tons). The structure was then bolted to its foundation with 72 bolts, each measuring 30’ long. The Space Needle was designated a Seattle historic landmark on April 19, 1999.

Documentation of this process was provided by Archpaper.com with the following quote: “Graham was excited by the challenge, and assemble a large team of associates, including Art Edwards, Manson Bennett, Erle Duff, Al Miller, Nate Wilkinson, Victor Steinbrueck, and John Ridley,” explains HistoryLink, the online nonprofit WA State history encyclopedia. “In working to translate Carlson’s doodle into blueprints, they explored a variety of ideas ranging from a single saucer-capped spire to a structure resembling a tethered balloon. Steinbrueck hit on a wasp-wasted tripod for the Space Needle’s legs and Ridley perfected the double-decked “Top House” crown.”

For its 55th anniversary the Space Needle received a significant redesign to it’s “core and shell”, building on its original concept as “a place devoted to observation.” The Wright family privately owns the Space Needle and they tapped Seattle architects Olson Kundig to lead the renovations. Tom Kundig, Principal at Olson Kundig grew up in Washington State and visited Seattle in 1962 for the World’s Fair. He stated in an interview with CNN: “The original idea of course, is you’re in this unbelievable rotating saucer.” With the renovation Kundig speaks passionately about preservation and invisibility. “You’re keeping the magic, keeping the spirit of the original idea and upgrading these things that need to be updated.” Alan Maskin, Principal at Olson Kundigelaborated in a separate interview, “The Space Needle has always been a treasured place where we can observe the contrast between the changing city of Seattle juxtaposed against the natural resources that surround it. Our design widens the lens of that human perspective.” The Century Project was a multi-year project, involving over 50 experts in specialties such as wind, seismic, acoustics, steel and glass, in an effort to highlight the structure of the Space Needle and bring it closer to the original vision from its concept sketches. Additionally, Olson Kundig consulted local architecture historians and preservationists, including the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board. Their focus was to “reveal the ingenuity of the original structure while improving the visitor experience- more glass, more views, more minimalist, less obstruction.” To do this required seamlessly hiding updated structures and physical systems to highlight the breathtaking view and elevate the visitor experience.

The core team for the Century Project included Arup providing building physics, building retrofit, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, public health engineering and structural engineering, along with Hoffman Construction and the Seneca Group. The focus for the renovation was at the “Top House” as a previous renovation in 2000 remodeled the visitor center at ground level. This required scaffolding to be placed at the base of the “Top House” to accommodate materials and workers- while the Space Needle remained open to visitors. It also required a gantry crane to be placed at the top of the structure to lift items too large for the Space Needle’s elevators- primarily the 11’ x 7’ sheets of glass, weighing 2,300 lbs. It also required a robotic glass placement machine. The 500’ level’s signaturerotating floor received a major upgrade with the construction of a new rotating glass floor- believed to be the only one in the world. Called “The Loupe”, it allows visitors to see the city below as well as the mechanics of the elevators and their counterweights. The flooring is composed of 10 sheets of glass- 6 that rotate and 4 for the base layer. The composition of the glass sheets has the same effect as reinforced concrete. The 1962 design housed all of its mechanical systems in the floor; this was moved to the ceiling in the 2018 renovation. On the observationlevel the metal “caging” was removed and replaced by nearly seamless glass plates, allowing for a 360 degree views. Glass benches, called “Skyrisers”, were placed on this level. In all, 10 different types of glass were used, weighing more than 176 tons. In addition, 2 staircases were constructed with the primary staircase called “The Oculus Stairs”, a dramatic new open circular stairway that connects all 3 “Top House” levels. The materials used are steel, wood and glass. The stairway’s design is cantilevered with the supporting structure concealed by the architectural finishes, appearing to “float above the skyline as a thin ribbon of steel”. The Space Needle Corporation is working with renowned hospitality designer Adam Tihany for a future elevated restaurant. The current design includes a wine bar and a café.

The 2018 Space Needle renovations have received recognition and awards for their efforts. The project has received LEED Gold certification. Additionally, it won the AIA National Architecture Honor Award, as an example of the best of contemporary architecture.Alan Maskin said, “The new design allows visitors to witness the constantly changing city of Seattle below them- as the Space Needle was always intending to do- and see the engineering brilliance of the structure in new ways.” He further said, “ Our goal was to build on the original architects’ idea from 60 years ago, and to add the technologies of our time developed in the intervening years. Every design move was about the public observing a spectacular view. We removed everything in the existing Space Needle that got in the way of that view. We added almost 200% more glass, and by doing so, added 200% more view to the original design. In the process, we invented an entirely new form of observation tower.”  The Space Needle attracts 1.3 million visitors a year and has had more than 60 million visitors since 1962. The renovations ensure that Seattalites and visitors can continue to enjoy and be inspired by the Space Needle as a symbol of the city, and of innovation and creativity.