Space Needle - observation tower in Seattle (USA)

The Space Needle is an observation tower located in Seattle, United States. It was built between 1961 and 1962 to commemorate the 1962 World's Fair exhibition in Seattle.

The Space Needle was designed by architect John Graham and architectural firm Victor Steinbrueck, who worked on the design of the tower. The design was selected as a result of an architectural competition in which more than 20 designs participated.

The tower has a unique design that is designed to withstand earthquakes and high winds. The tower is stable thanks to the use of five pillars that are driven into the ground at a depth of 9 meters.

Construction of the Space Needle began in April 1961 and was completed on April 8, 1962. The cost of construction was about $4.5 million.

The tower consists of three parts: the base, the center and the top. The base is square and measures 42.7 meters by 42.7 meters. The center is disc-shaped and has a diameter of 24 meters. The top of the tower is cone-shaped and 34 meters high.

The main attraction of the Space Needle is a restaurant located at a height of 152 meters, which rotates around its axis, allowing visitors to enjoy the views from different sides. There is also an observation deck at the top of the tower, which offers panoramic views of Seattle. From the top of the tower, visitors can see Mount Rainier, Elliot Bay, Lake Union and even the USS Nimitz Warship, which harbors Seattle, among others.

The Space Needle is 184 meters high and weighs about 8,660 tons.

The Space Needle was the tallest structure on the West Coast of the United States at the time of its opening. Today it is the 8th tallest building in Washington State.

In 2000, the tower was renovated at a cost of about $20 million. During this renovation, the tower was strengthened, modernized and adapted to meet today's safety standards.

The tower was originally to be called "The Space Cage," but it was eventually decided to call it "Space Needle," which better reflected the nature of the structure.

The structure was built during the space age, which saw a rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. The tower was meant to symbolize technological and space progress.

The Space Needle is one of Seattle's most popular venues for a variety of events, including weddings, banquets and corporate events. There is also an open-air event space in the upper part of the tower.

In 2000, the Space Needle was named one of the seven modern architectural wonders of the United States by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The tower was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 as an important architectural and cultural landmark.