The Century Project at the Space Needle

Seattle, Washington

The Century Project at the Space Needle

Seattle, Washington

Design Principal

Alan Maskin

Originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle has become an international icon of the Pacific Northwest and a symbol of Seattle. Constructed in just over a year, the Space Needle pointed the way toward the future with a sense of optimism and possibility. In its 55th year, the Space Needle again looked to the future with the Century Project, a significant redesign that preserves the Space Needle’s legacy by creating a new visitor experience for the next 50 years.

Led by Design Principal Alan Maskin, Olson Kundig’s design of the Space Needle’s new “core and shell” builds on the same conceptual premise that originally informed the Space Needle – a place devoted to observation. The design includes the world’s first rotating glass floor on the lowest level, floor-to-ceiling glass barriers with integral glass benches on the observation deck, a new steel and glass stairway with a glass-floored oculus connecting all three floors, and revised interiors throughout the “top house” of the Needle. The Space Needle’s new enhanced sense of transparency continues Olson Kundig’s longstanding interest in breaking down lines that demarcate inside and outside, bringing emphasis back to the Needle’s original guiding principle: providing unparalleled views of the city.

Olson Kundig’s transformation of the landmark tower focused on revealing the ingenuity of the original structure, parts of which, including the mechanics of the revolving floor, are made visible for the first time. Improving the visitor experience was a primary design directive, with the revolving glass floor being a key component. This new transparent floor provides a 360-degree rotating window that guests can walk on, revealing a new view down the Needle’s steel superstructure to the Seattle Center campus below. The scope of the project, which is certified LEED® Gold for Commercial Interiors, also included necessary mechanical, building envelope and structural updates such as seismic retrofitting and accessibility improvements.

The new design allows visitors to witness the constantly changing city of Seattle below them – as the Space Needle was always intended to do – and see the engineering brilliance of the structure in new ways. Alan Maskin

Team

Design Principal

Alan Maskin
Project Architect

Blair Payson
Architectural Staff

Marlene Chen
Crystal Coleman
Alex Fritz
Julia Khorsand
Hayden Robinson
Nathan Boyd
Interior Design

Naomi Mason
Interior Design Staff

Laina Navarro

Photographer: Eirik Johnson

Photo: The Space Needle

Awards

2022

AIA National Honor Award – Architecture

2021

The Facade Tectonics Institute’s Vitruvian Honors & Awards, Runner Up, Outstanding Facade Renovation

2020

AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Design Awards, Merit Award

Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Awards, Honorable Mention, Renovation

Engineering News-Record National Best of the Best Project Awards, Renovation/Restoration Best Project

Engineering News-Record Northwest, Renovation/Restoration Best Project

Interior Design Best of Year Award Winner, Entertainment Category

2019

Seattle 2030 District Vision Awards, Leadership Award

2018

AIA Seattle Honor Awards, Honorable Mention

Publications

2021

Baldwin, Eric. “Olson Kundig’s Alan Maskin on the Immense Power of Architectural Sketching.” Architizer, 10 Mar. 2021. Web.

Berardi, Erica. “Best of the Best 2020.” Engineering News-Record, 15 Mar. 2021, 46-51. Print.

Berardi, Erica. “Project of the Year, Best Renovation/Restoration: The Seattle Space Needle Century Project.” Engineering News-Record, 10 Mar. 2021. Web.

Boyle, Alan. “How acoustics experts turned down the volume on the Space Needle’s makeover.” Geek Wire, 1 Dec. 2021. Web.

“Coming Full Circle.” Buildings, Apr. 2021, 27. Print.

“ENR’s Best of the Best Projects 2020.” Engineering News-Record, 10 Mar. 2021. Web.

Kloepple, Sarah. “How the Space Needle’s New Observation Deck Celebrates Its Original Design.” Buildings Online, 12 Apr. 2021. Web.

Margolies, Jane. “Best of Year – Entertainment.” Interior Design, Jan. 2021, 34. Print.

Margolies, Jane. “The Century Project at the Space Needle: 2020 Best of Year Winner for Entertainment.” Interior Design Online, 18 Jan. 2021. Web.

“Spotlight: The Century Project at the Space Needle, 2021 GRAY Awards Finalist.” GRAY Magazine Online, 15 Oct. 2021. Web.

Thomas, George. ““Spacelift” & World’s First Revolving Glass Floor Await You At Seattle’s Space Needle.” Van Nuys Newspress, 20 Aug. 2021. Web.

2020

“16 projects win AIA NW&PR design awards.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 14 Oct. 2020, 2. Print.

“Alan Maskin.” Puget Sound Business Journal, 30 Oct. 2020, 43. Print.

Baldwin, Eric. “Architectural Drawings: 10 Iconic Observation Towers in Section.” Architizer, 14 Jul. 2020. Web.

Baldwin, Eric. “Designing for Curiosity: Alan Maskin on Building New Worlds Together.” ArchDaily, 15 May 2020. Web.

“Best of the Best.” Architect’s Newspaper, 2 Dec. 2020. Web.

Latterner, Tim. “Olson Kundig talks kinetic design, new projects, and our Facades+ conference.” Architect’s Newspaper, 30 Nov. 2020. Web.

Latterner, Tim. “This week in facades: Panoramic views and power plant news.” Architect’s Newspaper, 20 Nov. 2020. Web.

“Northwest 2020 Renovation/Restoration Best Project: The Century Project for the Space Needle.” ENR Northwest Blog, 17 Nov. 2020. Web.

Payson, Blair with Cate O’Toole. “From hole in the floor to panoramic views.” Intelligent Glass Solutions, Autumn 2021. Web.

Thakrar, Tina. “In Conversation with Olson Kundig.” Good Homes India, 20 Jul. 2020. Web.

“The Century Project at the Space Needle.” Archello, 29 Oct. 2020. Web.

“The Century Project for the Space Needle.” Architonic, 15 Feb. 2020. Web.

Williamson, Bess. “Call to Access.” Metropolis, May. 2020, 2, 79-88. Print.

Zappia, Anna. “Karen Braitmayer, Founder of Studio Pacifica, Weighs in on Accessible Design.” ArchDaily, 30 Jul. 2020. Web.

2019

“2018 Building of the Year.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 9 Feb. 2019. Web.

Binkley, Clayton and Kristen Strobel. “The Century Project: Bringing Seattle’s Space Needle into the future.” Civil + Structural Engineer, Jan. 2019, 32-34. Print.

Binkley, Clayton and Kristen Strobel. “The Century Project: Bringing Seattle’s Space Needle into the future.” Civil + Structural Engineer, 2 Jan. 2019. Online.

Boorstin, Sharon. “Float High Above a Shiny Boomtown.” Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2019, L3. Print.

Boorstin, Sharon. “Float over the city on a weekend escape to Seattle.” Los Angeles Times Online, 17 Jan. 2019. Web.

Fonk, Izabel. “The Rotating Glass Space Needle by Olson Kundig.” Objekt International, 22 Nov. 2019. Web.

Itzkowitz, Laura. “February Will See Art and Architecture Fans Flocking to These 5 Places.” Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2019. Web.

Pacheco, Antonio. “Extreme architecture: The great lengths (and heights) of high design.” The Architect’s Newspaper, 18 Feb. 2019. Web.

Pacheco, Antonio. “Olson Kundig’s Seattle Space Needle restoration shines in new photos.” Archinect, 15 Oct. 2019. Web.

Petrunia, Paul. “Olson Kundig’s Alan Maskin on Icons and Architecture for Children.” Archinect, 30 Apr. 2019. Web.

Shim, Bryan. “Olson Kundig redesigns Seattle’s Space Needle with all glass interiors.” Designboom, 18 Oct. 2019. Web.

“Space Needle Renovation / Olson Kundig.” ArchDaily, 16 Oct. 2019. Web.

“The World’s Most Innovative Companies.” Fast Company, Mar.-Apr. 2019, 40. Print.

“X-Treme Construction.” The Architect’s Newspaper, March 2019, 14-15. Print.

2018

Baskas, Harriet. “Seattle Space Needle Makeover Included Selfie-Friendly Glass Benches.” USA Today, 24 May 2018. Web.

Bennes, Crystal. “A Point Worth Making.” ICON, May 2018, 124-135. Print.

Block, Annie. “Olson Kundig Sharpens Seattle’s Space Needle.” Interior Design, 23 Oct. 2018. Web.

“Case Study: Seattle Space Needle’s Renovated Observation Decks Achieve High Thermal Performance With Technoform Spacers.” Publicnow. 3 De. 2018. Web.

Ciummo, Brenna. “Emerald City: An Inside Look At Seattle’s Revamped Space Needle.” Clipper Vacations Magazine, 12 Sept. 2018. Web.

Elliott, Gwendolyn. “Glass Castle: Inside the Epic Space Needle Remodel.” Seattle Magazine, 25 May 2018. Web.

Elliott, Gwendolyn. “Glass Castle.” Seattle Magazine, June 2018, 23, 26. Print.

Enlow, Clair. “Hilarious overabundance of good work greets AIA awards jury; 13 projects win.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 7 Nov. 2018, 1, 3, 8. Print.

Fazzare, Elizabeth. “The Seattle Space Needle’s Renovation by Olson Kundig Is Unveiled.” Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2018. Web.

Gallaher, Rachel. “21st-Century Token.” Gray Magazine, Dec. 2018/Jan. 2019, 46-51. Print.

Gallaher, Rachel. “Destination: Seattle.” Surface, 13 April 2018. Web.

Gallaher, Rachel. “Seattle.” Surface, Mar./April 2018, 84-93. Print.

Gragg, Randy. “A Space Needle Odyssey.” Architectural Record, Sept. 2018, 46-48, 55. Print.

Hansen, Kristine. “Seattle’s Iconic Space Needle Prepares to Unveil a $100 Million Renovation.” Architectural Digest, 16 May 2018. Web.

“Inside Seattle’s Space Needle After Its $100 Million Makeover.” CBS News Online, 24 May 2018. Web.

Keane, Katharine. “Reimagined Space Needle Debuts Revolving Glass Floor by Olson Kundig.” ARCHITECT, 7 Aug. 2018. Web.

Lee, Jessica. “It’s A Wrap!: Crews Reveal Space Needle’s New-and-Improved Observation Deck.” The Seattle Times, 17 May 2018. Web.

Loos, Ted. “Facts & Stat: Space Needle.” The Wall Street Journal Magazine, May 2018, 36. Print.

Loos, Ted. “What’s News: May 2018.” The Wall Street Journal, 23 Apr. 2018. Web.

Pacheco, Antonio. “Olson Kundig’s Space Needle renovations yield pristine 360-degree views 500 feet up.” The Architect’s Newspaper, 5 Nov. 2018. Web.