olson kundig redesigns seattle's space needle with all glass interiors

seattle’s space needle — the 57 year-old landmark of the pacific northwest — continues to improve its visitor experience by offering an unparalleled 360 degree view of the city below. since the project’s announcement, design principal alan maskin from architecture firm olson kundig has been leading the two-phase ‘century project’, adding facilities such as a new glass observation deck and the world’s first all-glass interior restaurant.

all images by hufton + crow

originally built for the 1962 world’s fair, the 605-foot (184 meter) space needle is again looking to the future with the renovation. olson kundig approached the project with the intention of enhancing the tower’s sense of transparency — breaking down the lines that demarcate what is inside and outside. the transformation also focuses heavily on revealing the ingenuity of the original structure, parts of which, including the mechanics of the revolving floor, have been made visible for the first time.

the tower’s saucer-shaped ‘top house’ offers visitors indoor and outdoor panoramic views of downtown, mount rainier, puget sound, and the cascades and olympic mountain ranges. the renovation also includes three glass floors that are connected by the oculus, a set of grand spiral staircases made of wood, steel, and glass. at the bottom of the staircases, the loupe, the world’s first and only rotating glass floor, provides a downward view of the structure along with the surrounding area of seattle. see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

project info:

project: space needle

renovation architect: olson kundig

location: 400 broad st, seattle, WA 98109

height: 605 feet (184 meters)
photography: hufton + crow