EdMc
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Space Needle
From spaceneedle.com,
The Space Needle is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world and is a treasured Seattle icon. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair—the Century 21 Exposition whose theme was “The Age of Space”—the tower’s futuristic design was inspired by the idea that the fair needed a structure to symbolize humanity’s Space Age aspirations. Since its grand opening on April 21, 1962, the landmark continues to symbolize the innovative and forward-thinking spirit of Seattle. Located at Seattle Center, the Space Needle stands at 605’ tall and is one of the most photographed structures in the world.
Some history from spaceneedle.com,
In 1959, Seattle hotel executive Edward E. Carlson, who was a chief organizer of the 1962 World’s Fair, traveled to Stuttgart Germany where he was inspired by a broadcast tower featuring a restaurant. He doodled an idea of a dominant central structure for the fair on a napkin in a hotel café convinced that such a tower could make a permanent center-piece for the fair and an enduring symbol for Seattle. He called it a “Space Needle.”
Architect John “Jack” Graham focused on a flying saucer-shaped top house.
Architect Victor Steinbrueck came up with the wasp-waisted tower shape based on an abstract sculpture of a dancer called “The Feminine One.”
The Space Needle’s chief engineer, John Minasian, had also designed rocket gantries for NASA.
From Seattle Magazine, April 2012,
The Lasting Impact of Seattle's World's Fair Architects
Design at the 1962 World's Fair brought its architects acclaim well beyond the Seattle Center ground
[url]https://www.seattlemag.com/article/lasting-impact-seattles-worlds-fair-architects[/url]
San Francisco-based landscape architect Lawrence Halprin designed the fair’s master landscaping plan.
Architect Minoru Yamasaki designed the United States Science Pavilion, now the Pacific Science Center.
April 21, 1962
Opening day.
The Space Needle officially opened the first day of the World’s Fair. During the expo the tower hosted an estimated 2.65 million visitors. They included world celebrities including Elvis Presley, the Shah and Empress of Iran, Prince Philip of Great Britain, Bobby Kennedy, Walter Cronkite, John Wayne, Bob Hope, Chubby Checker, Billy Graham, John Glenn, Jonas Salk, Carol Channing, Neil Armstrong, Lyndon Johnson, Walt Disney and scores of others.
“The first phase of the renovation, completed in late summer 2018, includes breathtaking, multi-level, floor-to-ceiling glass viewing experiences including an upper level outdoor observation deck with open-air glass walls and Skyriser glass benches.” - spaceneedle.com
Roof of the Museum of Pop Culture on the right, designed by Frank Gehry.
Looking through The Loupe, the world’s first revolving glass floor.
Spiders painted by illustrator Marlin Peterson on the Seattle Center Armory (formerly the Center House).
[url]https://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/08/31/why-giant-daddy-longlegs-are-attacking-the-seattle-center/[/url]
“It took me about 2.5-3 weeks full time sketching and painting the roof. I spent a week or so making models and digitally painting mockups and working out how and when everything had to be done.”
Elliott Bay at Seattle’s waterfront is part of Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean
Inside an elevator, each elevator carries 25 people.
- www.elevatorworld.com/blogs/facts-about-the-space-needle-elevators
There are 832 open-air stairs that are climbable for a fee.
Travel time from the ground level to the top-house is 43 seconds.
From spaceneedle.com,
The Space Needle is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world and is a treasured Seattle icon. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair—the Century 21 Exposition whose theme was “The Age of Space”—the tower’s futuristic design was inspired by the idea that the fair needed a structure to symbolize humanity’s Space Age aspirations. Since its grand opening on April 21, 1962, the landmark continues to symbolize the innovative and forward-thinking spirit of Seattle. Located at Seattle Center, the Space Needle stands at 605’ tall and is one of the most photographed structures in the world.
Some history from spaceneedle.com,
In 1959, Seattle hotel executive Edward E. Carlson, who was a chief organizer of the 1962 World’s Fair, traveled to Stuttgart Germany where he was inspired by a broadcast tower featuring a restaurant. He doodled an idea of a dominant central structure for the fair on a napkin in a hotel café convinced that such a tower could make a permanent center-piece for the fair and an enduring symbol for Seattle. He called it a “Space Needle.”
Architect John “Jack” Graham focused on a flying saucer-shaped top house.
Architect Victor Steinbrueck came up with the wasp-waisted tower shape based on an abstract sculpture of a dancer called “The Feminine One.”
The Space Needle’s chief engineer, John Minasian, had also designed rocket gantries for NASA.
From Seattle Magazine, April 2012,
The Lasting Impact of Seattle's World's Fair Architects
Design at the 1962 World's Fair brought its architects acclaim well beyond the Seattle Center ground
[url]https://www.seattlemag.com/article/lasting-impact-seattles-worlds-fair-architects[/url]
San Francisco-based landscape architect Lawrence Halprin designed the fair’s master landscaping plan.
Architect Minoru Yamasaki designed the United States Science Pavilion, now the Pacific Science Center.
April 21, 1962
Opening day.
The Space Needle officially opened the first day of the World’s Fair. During the expo the tower hosted an estimated 2.65 million visitors. They included world celebrities including Elvis Presley, the Shah and Empress of Iran, Prince Philip of Great Britain, Bobby Kennedy, Walter Cronkite, John Wayne, Bob Hope, Chubby Checker, Billy Graham, John Glenn, Jonas Salk, Carol Channing, Neil Armstrong, Lyndon Johnson, Walt Disney and scores of others.
“The first phase of the renovation, completed in late summer 2018, includes breathtaking, multi-level, floor-to-ceiling glass viewing experiences including an upper level outdoor observation deck with open-air glass walls and Skyriser glass benches.” - spaceneedle.com
Roof of the Museum of Pop Culture on the right, designed by Frank Gehry.
Looking through The Loupe, the world’s first revolving glass floor.
Spiders painted by illustrator Marlin Peterson on the Seattle Center Armory (formerly the Center House).
[url]https://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/08/31/why-giant-daddy-longlegs-are-attacking-the-seattle-center/[/url]
“It took me about 2.5-3 weeks full time sketching and painting the roof. I spent a week or so making models and digitally painting mockups and working out how and when everything had to be done.”
Elliott Bay at Seattle’s waterfront is part of Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean
Inside an elevator, each elevator carries 25 people.
- www.elevatorworld.com/blogs/facts-about-the-space-needle-elevators
There are 832 open-air stairs that are climbable for a fee.
Travel time from the ground level to the top-house is 43 seconds.
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