Seattle’s Iconic Space Needle Is Getting a Facelift

The most iconic marker of the Seattle skyline is undoubtedly the Space Needle, the 600-foot tower famously constructed in just over a year for the 1962 World’s Fair. This month, a major part of the tower’s $100 million dollar makeover, a renovation process named the Century Project, will be unveiled to the public.

Visitors to the newly revamped Space Needle can expect extended panoramic views of the Puget Sound and the Seattle Center from 500 feet above ground, thanks to the world’s first-ever revolving glass floor. The project required an additional 176 tons of glass, which will be cleaned and maintained daily by a special in-house glass-keeping team, as well as a custom-designed system of hydraulic lifts, motors, and cables. There will also be a grand steel, wood, and glass spiral staircase, opening views from the Observation Deck to the tower’s restaurant level, as well as glass benches, called skyrisers, where you can sit and admire the view from above.

To be sure the updates don’t stray too far from the tower’s original vision, the renovation team has worked closely with designers, preservationists, and architecture historians to honor the landmark’s legacy. The Observation Deck has been partially open to visitors throughout the process, but you can look forward to the full experience in the coming weeks.