Walls, barriers and even floors have been removed from the Space Needle and replaced with structural glass revealing dramatically expanded views and a completely new, multi-level guest experience.
This dramatic $100 million renovation revealed the world’s first and only revolving glass floor, earning the Space Needle in Washington state a prestigious award bestowed by the World Federation of Great Towers (WFGT).
The WFGT is an international association of great towers including some of the world’s most recognizable structures such as the Eiffel Tower and Empire State Building. The extreme ingenuity required to complete the massive renovation 520 feet in the air, while remaining largely open to the the public during construction, earned top recognition at WFGT’s annual conference today in Mexico City.
Accepting the “2018 Technical Innovation Award for Excellence” on behalf of the Space Needle, Chief Marketing Officer Karen Olson commented, “The dramatic transformation of the Space Needle visitor experience, made possible by an amazing team of visionary architects, engineers and experts, has brought to life ideas our founders could only dream possible.”
With 196% more glass, including ten different varieties, designers created an immersive adventure featuring the world’s first and only glass revolving floor. Open-air glass panels dip out at a slight 14-degree angle with no seams between them, leaving nothing but air between visitors and the dramatic Puget Sound view.
“This renovation employed first of its kind technology, just like when the Space Needle was originally built in 1962,” said Karen Olson, CMO of the Space Needle. “Ingenuity and innovation were key to how the Space Needle was originally designed and built for the World’s Fair and are still key to how the Space Needle has been reinvented for the future.”
