Seattle Space Needle gets 100 million dollar makeover

Half a century after its construction, the Space Needle is about to undergo its biggest renovation yet.

The big changes: Flooring in the restaurant will be replaced with glass, giving diners a view of Seattle Center 500 feet below; the observation deck will be retooled, its outside, cage-like enclosure replaced entirely with glass panels; and another set of elevators will be added.

With the new version of the Space Needle, said CEO Ron Sevart, “We’re appealing to a wider range of people.”

Sevart said he used to think of the Space Needle as timeless, but in surveys conducted over the past few years, guests reported they felt the interior was “tired” and “dated.” The Space Age piece of architecture, which has become a symbol of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, turned 55 this year.