Space Needle

The Space Needle is an iconic 605-foot tower that is undoubtedly the most recognizable feature of the Seattle skyline. First built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle is a popular landmark in Seattle, Washington. It has a unique design that was originally meant to evoke humankind’s lofty Space Age ambitions. Throughout its history, the Space Needle has welcomed thousands of visitors every day. In addition to breathtaking panoramic views of the city and Puget Sound, the Space Needle features a special observation deck with a rotating glass floor called the Loupe, a rotating restaurant, and more. In addition to being a popular tourist destination, the Space Needle regularly serves as an event space for everything from weddings to high school proms. The Space Needle is also a fixture in popular culture, appearing in such films and television shows as It Happened at the World’s Fair (1962), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and Frasier (1993–2004). In 2017 and 2018, the Space Needle underwent extensive renovations that included the addition of new features and amenities.

Background

The Space Needle was the brainchild of Edward E. Carlson, a Seattle hotel executive who was one of the organizers of the 1962 World’s Fair. While engaged in preparations for the upcoming fair in 1959, Carlson took a trip to Germany and saw a broadcast tower that featured a restaurant. Inspired by the unique structure, Carlson drew a crude doodle of a similar tower that could serve as the centerpiece of the fair. He dubbed his proposed tower a “Space Needle.” When Carlson subsequently took his idea back to Seattle, he quickly won the support of many of his fellow organizers and began work on making the Space Needle a reality.

Although Carlson’s doodle provided engineers with the basic idea of what the Space Needle should look like, the final design evolved significantly over time. Some of the early designs for the Space Needle were quite different from the finished product. One looked more like a tethered balloon. Another resembled a cocktail shaker with a tram. It was not until architects John “Jack” Graham Jr. and Victor Steinbrueck proposed a design that featured a flying saucer-like structure perched atop a wasp-waisted tower that the final plans for the Space Needle were established.

Construction work on the Space Needle began in 1961 after investors acquired a plot of land located on the former site of a fire station. Workers started by pouring a concrete foundation into a 30-foot-deep hole. The process was the largest continuous concrete pour ever attempted in the West. Construction of the tower itself got underway a short time later. Work on the Space Needle was completed in December 1961, just months before the opening of the 1962 World’s Fair. Interestingly, the original Space Needle was much more colorful than it appears today. At first, the structure was painted to reflect its space theme. While the tower’s legs were white, the central portion of the structure was painted “Orbital Olive,” the halo section was painted “Re-entry Red,” and the sunburst and pagoda roof were painted “Galaxy Gold.” With construction completed, the Space Needle officially opened on April 21, 1962, and welcomed more than 2.6 million visitors on that day alone.

Overview

When it opened to the public, the Space Needle stood at a towering 605-feet tall and 138-feet wide. It weighed 9,550 tons and was built to withstand winds up to 200 miles per hour and earthquakes up to 9.1 in magnitude. To reach the observation deck, visitors took a 41-second elevator ride to the 520-foot level. In addition to the observation deck itself, the original Space Needle also featured a pair of restaurants and other amenities. Another unique feature of the original Space Needle was a large natural gas torch located at the tower’s pinnacle that produced a 40 to 50-foot flame. The torch was ultimately removed at the conclusion of the World’s Fair. One other feature included for the World’s Fair was a 538-bell imitation carillon—a powerful musical instrument that was played several times a day and could be heard up to ten miles away.

The Space Needle remained largely unchanged for its first twenty years in operation. The tower’s first notable renovation came when the Skyline level was added. The Skyline level featured event space for gatherings like weddings, parties, and business meetings. In 1999, the Space Needle was outfitted with what were called Legacy Lights. When lit on special occasions, these powerful lights shine upwards from the top of the tower. That same year, the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board named the Space Needle an official City of Seattle Landmark. The Space Needle subsequently underwent a second major renovation in 2000. New features such as the Pavilion Level, the SkyCity rotating restaurant, and the SpaceBase retail store were added during this update. The Space Needle went through its most expansive renovation in 2017 and 2018. “The Century Project,” as this renovation was called, was aimed at revealing the Space Needle’s internal structures, as was intended in many original concept sketches, and improving its views. Much of the tower’s metal panel cladding was replaced with floor-to-ceiling glass in order to provide unobstructed views. Exterior wrap-around observation areas were also reconfigured to make them more open and transparent. On the observation deck, integrated benches were installed along tempered glass exterior partitions. This tempered glass replaced the Space Needle’s original caging barricades and offered better views. One of the biggest changes during this renovation was the addition of the Loupe, a rotating glass floor that offers visitors spectacular vertical views from more than 500 feet above the ground. The Loupe rotates at variable speeds and can complete a full revolution in anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes.

The history of the Space Needle includes a number of quirky details. In 1974, Seattle author Stephen Cosgrove created a character called the Wheedle who supposedly lived atop the Space Needle. On April Fools’ Day 1989, Seattle television station KING-TV caused a panic when it told viewers that the Space Needle had collapsed. For a short time starting in 1997, the Space Needle had an official mascot named Sneedle. Over the years, at least six people have parachuted from the Space Needle.

Bibliography

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Bruton, Nancy. “How Was the Space Needle Built?” Coast Crane, 13 Feb. 2018, www.coastcrane.com/about-us/news/the-coast-crane-blog/the-coast-crane-blog/2018/02/13/how-was-the-space-needle-built. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019.

Fortin, Jacey. “A Time Capsule, Long Forgotten at the Space Needle, Is Found.” New York Times, 18 Nov. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/11/18/us/time-capsule-space-needle.html. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019.

Gorrow, Chelsea. “The Space Needle and the World’s Fair of 1962: ‘The Biggest Thing since Lewis and Clark.’” Oregon Public Broadcasting, 30 Jan. 2013, www.opb.org/news/article/the-space-needle-and-the-worlds-fair-of-1962-the-biggest-thing-since-lewis-and-clark. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019.

“History.” Space Needle, www.spaceneedle.com/history. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019.

Pacheco, Antonio. “Olson Kundig Completes Seattle Space Needle Renovations.” Architect’s Newspaper, 20 Aug. 2018, archpaper.com/2018/08/seattle-space-needle-renovations-olson-kundig/#gallery-0-slide-0. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019.

“What Is the Space Needle?” Wonderopolis, wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-the-space-needle. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019.

Wulff, Alexia. “The History of Seattle’s Space Needle in 1 Minute.” Culture Trip, 13 Aug. 2016, theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/washington/articles/the-history-of-seattles-space-needle-in-1-minute. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019.