Seattle’s Space Needle Is Getting a Makeover to Enhance Panoramic Views

One of America’s most recognizable landmarks is getting a new look.

The Space Needle, in Seattle, is getting a makeover, Curbed reported. It will be the third renovation in the building’s lifetime.

While the outside of the building will remain largely unchanged, the technology and infrastructure of the 55-year-old building is getting a major upgrade.

Space Needle LLC, which owns the Needle, announced it will be upgrading the building to make it more accessible to people with disabilities. It also plans to replace current materials with more glass to provide visitors with panoramic views of the city below. According to Architectural Digest the renovation project will be designed by Olson Kundig.

The renovation project, called the “Century Project,” will include replacing the observation deck’s metal safety cage with glass panels. The design firm will also create a new glass rotating floor to enhance views, Architectural Digest reported.

The design team and Space Needle LLC have also been working with local architecture historians and preservationists, including the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board, to ensure the changes are in line with the original vision of the world famous landmark, according to Curbed.

“I believe we’ll look back at this as a pivotal moment in the history of the Space Needle,” Jeff Wright, Space Needle chairman, said in a statement. “This project both connects us back to our roots, to the vision that my father and his partners had when they built the Space Needle in 1962, and guides us forward into the future for generations to enjoy."

Parts of the Space Needle, along with the SkyCity Restaurant, will close this September and will reopen in stages in 2018. If you’re looking to experience the vintage building before the changes are made check out our entire guide to planning the perfect Seattle vacation here.

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