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Seattle Space Needle's $100m renovation completes
The world’s first and only revolving glass floor is now suspended and spinning at Seattle's Space Needle, providing unmatched views of the city below.
In September 2017, the Space Needle began its $100m (€89.4m, £78.3m) renovation, designed to reignite enthusiasm around the 605-foot landmark.
Architects Olson Kundig are behind the renovation, adding more than 250 tons of glass and steel to increase the strength, stability, functionality, and aesthetics to the tower’s overall design.
Named 'The Loupe', the rotating glass floor is located just below the open-air observation deck at the 500ft level and replaces the original revolving floor that was a feature of the Space Needle when it first opened in 1962. The new loor is made of 10 layers of glass, including a so-called “scuff layer” that can be removed and replaced without compromising the floor’s structural integrity.
As before, the rotating floor will be part of a restaurant although the plans for the restaurant are set to be announced later this year. For now, the space is occupied on that level at Atmos Wine Bar. The spinning floor can rotate at variable speeds and is capable of completing a rotation in anywhere between 20 and 90 minutes.
Changes to the structure include replacing metal panel cladding with floor-to-ceiling glass and reconfiguring the exterior metal wrap-around the observation areas to provide a more open and transparent 360-degree view of the city.
24 glass slanted benches are attached to some of the newly installed glass windows on the viewing deck and invite guests to lean back and take a selfie that will make them appear to be floating out over the landscape.