Watch crews working at 500 feet return the landmark’s exterior back to (mostly) normal
If you’ve taken a look at the Space Needle in the last year or so, you may have noticed something a little different. That’s because the landmark is going through a $100 million remodel, updating its look and giving the building better views.
To make that happen, crews needed to be able to reach the base of the Needle’s saucer-shaped top, 500 feet in the air. So for the past year or so, it’s looked a little thicker, thanks to a work platform mounted at its base.
Monday, the Space Needle announced the removal of the platform—and even released a video of the thing coming down, featuring workers dangling at 500 feet. (Watch above.) If the recently-revealed glass benches, which give the illusion of floating over the city, were a little much for you, you may want to skip this one.
If the idea of floating that high above the ground appeals to you, though, stay tuned for what that platform was being used for. Mid-July, the public will be able to walk on a brand-new glass floor.
The new design also includes improved accessibility and crowd movement, with an ADA lift, double-sized doors, and wide stairways.
The two-floor remodel is part of the “Century Project,” a larger, multi-year effort to highlight the structure of the Needle and get closer to the original vision from its concept sketches, designed by firm Olson Kundig.