New Heights: Transforming Seattle’s Iconic Space Needle

- A beautifully presented narrative detailing the enthralling process of renovation the Space Needle, the first tower in the world to boast a revolving restaurant, and a structure that changed notions of engineering and construction

- The process of renovation from planning, construction to the final result are richly photographed in full color throughout, with numerous captions

- Incisive commentary from the many stakeholders involved with the Space Needle provides intriguing insight into the process of renovating such a beloved symbol

Originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle quickly became an international icon of the Pacific Northwest and a symbol of Seattle. At the time of its construction, the tower pointed the way toward the future with a sense of optimism, possibility, and invention. In its fifty-fifth year, the Space Needle is again representing an enhanced future with the Century Project, a holistic renovation of the upper levels led by Olson Kundig that repositions the iconic tower for its next fifty years. New Heights: Transforming Seattle’s Iconic Space Needle documents this latest chapter of the Space Needle’s story with an in-depth look at the innovations, challenges, and triumphs realized by the client and project team, as seen through the eyes of the architects.

Olson Kundig began its creative existence in 1966 with the architect Jim Olson, whose work at that time centered on explorations of the relationship between dwellings and the landscapes they inhabit. Over the five decades of its existence, the firm has grown and broadened its expertise far beyond the residences for which it is still best known. The geographical scope of the work has grown to cover more than 15 countries on five continents. The firm is led by 14 principal/owners who are supported by a team of over 250 in both Seattle and New York.