Seattle's iconic Space Needle is set to undergo a $100 million multi-year preservation project that will dramatically improve the visitor experience.
Announced Monday, the Century Project will enhance the attraction's impressive views as well as update its physical systems.
The Observation Deck will be outfitted with floor-to-ceiling glass windows on both the interior and exterior to intensify the 360-degree views of the Puget Sound. The restaurant level will be upgraded with a rotating glass floor showcasing downward views.
Other highlights of the renovation include glass benches on the outer open-air Observation Deck, a circular stairway leading from the Observation Deck to the restaurant level and improved accessibility that features a state-of-the-art Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lift. Officials are also looking to unveil a new restaurant and lounge experience.
Pre-work is scheduled to begin this summer with full construction getting underway in September 2017. The first renovation phase is slated for completion in June 2018. The various venues are expected to re-open in stages once complete beginning in the spring of 2018.
The Space Needle's SkyCity Restaurant and SkyLine private event space will be closed during construction. However, most of the attraction will remain open to visitors while work is being completed to allow guests to watch the project take shape.
"I believe we'll look back at this as a pivotal moment in the history of the Space Needle," said Space Needle LLC chairman Jeff Wright 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."
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In his own statement, Space Needle LLC president and CEO Ron Sevart said: "This reinvestment ensures the long-term viability of the Space Needle."
The Century Project will be the third major renovation for the Space Needle since it was built for the World Fair in 1962.
Fortunately for those who have grown accustomed to the structure's unmistakable profile, the project will not alter the Space Needle's appearance from afar.
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