Facelift of Seattle's Space Needle nears completion

By Ahmed Namatalla Associated Press

Tuesday, May 22, 2018 2:05 PM

SEATTLE (AP) Tourism is booming in Seattle. Just take a look at the Space Needle.

The family-owned landmark is set to unveil the biggest renovation in its 56-year history next month, a $100 million investment in a single year of construction that transformed the structure's top viewing level with floor-to-ceiling glass.

Seattle and King County benefited from $7.4 billion of spending by a record 40 million visitors last year, a number that has grown annually since the 2008 recession, according to Visit Seattle, a nonprofit advocacy group for the tourism industry.

Dozens of cranes that have become a mainstay of the city's skyline over the past decade aren't just building apartments and offices, but hotels to absorb the flood of arrivals at Seattle Tacoma International Airport.

"The environment is friendly with this type of investment. It wasn't a difficult thing at all to obtain financing," said Ron Sevart, president and chief executive officer at Space Needle LLC. "What we like to say is trends last 50 years. What this investment is more about is the next 50 years, and making sure the space needle stays relevant."

Hyatt Hotels Corp. is building a 1,260 room tower that's set to become the biggest hotel in the Northwest when it opens in the fall. In 2017, SeaTac Airport bucked the second year of declines in international arrivals to the U.S., posting a 5 percent increase, according to Visit Seattle.

Seattle's Wright family, which built and owns the Space Needle, is also installing glass in the observation deck's rotating floor and remodeling the restaurant in the first phase of the renovation.

Repainting the exterior of the 600-foot (183-meter) structure and replacing its three elevators will follow, according to Karen Olson, chief marketing officer at Space Needle. The project is being finance with a commercial loan, she said.

"Keeping your product well maintained and 'fresh' increases desirability," said Jeanne Liu, senior vice president of research at Longwoods International USA Inc., a consultancy that compiles tourism industry statistics for Visit Seattle. "There are a lot of places to visit in this world, and those destinations with a solid tourism infrastructure that is well maintained can use that as a competitive advantage."

Facelift of Seattle's Space Needle nears completion

Tourists look across at the Space Needle, where a floor of scaffolding remains below the upper portion, in Seattle on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. The family-owned landmark is set to unveil the biggest renovation in its 56-year history next month, a $100 million investment in a single year of construction that transformed the structure's top viewing level some 500-feet above ground. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The Associated Press

A floor of scaffolding remains below the upper portion of the Space Needle in Seattle on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. The family-owned landmark is set to unveil the biggest renovation in its 56-year history next month, a $100 million investment in a single year of construction that transformed the structure's top viewing level some 500-feet above ground. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The Associated Press

FILE - In this March 20, 2018, file photo, a glazer works on glass panels on the exterior wall of the Space Needle observation deck where larger glass panels behind him begin to line the exterior viewing platform and views north in Seattle. The privately-funded, $100 million renovation of the 55-year old structure is designed to increase the views 500-some feet above ground. It will include the replacement of wire barriers on the observation deck with outward-slanted glass and short exterior walls will be replaced with the floor-to-ceiling glass panels. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The Associated Press

FILE - In this March 20, 2018, file photo, a one-ton glass panel is moved into position on the Space Needle's observation deck in Seattle. The 56 year-old Space Needle is set to unveil a $100 million renovation next month against the backdrop of a booming tourism industry. Seattle's Wright family, which built and owns the Space Needle, is installing floor-to-ceiling glass in the observation deck and remodeling the restaurant in the first phase of the renovation. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The Associated Press

In this photo taken April 18, 2018, a welder works on the viewing platform atop the Space Needle in Seattle. The family-owned landmark is set to unveil the biggest renovation in its 56 year history next month, a $100 million investment in a single year of construction that transformed the structure's top viewing level some 500-feet above ground. The preservation and renovation project included the installation of floor-to-ceiling glass on the viewing deck, updated the structure's physical systems and adds a glass floor to the rotating restaurant. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The Associated Press

In this photo taken April 18, 2018, Space Needle facilities and construction superintendent Matt Waffle looks out over Elliott Bay through newly-installed glass panels atop the Space Needle in Seattle. The family-owned landmark is set to unveil the biggest renovation in its 56 year history next month, a $100 million investment in a single year of construction that transformed the structure's top viewing level some 500-feet above ground. The preservation and renovation project included the installation of floor-to-ceiling glass on the viewing deck, updated the structure's physical systems and adds a glass floor to the rotating restaurant. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The Associated Press

In this photo taken April 18, 2018, visitors to the viewing platform of the Space Needle look east through newly-installed glass panels in Seattle. The family-owned landmark is set to unveil the biggest renovation in its 56 year history next month, a $100 million investment in a single year of construction that transformed the structure's top viewing level some 500-feet above ground. The preservation and renovation project included the installation of floor-to-ceiling glass on the viewing deck, updated the structure's physical systems and adds a glass floor to the rotating restaurant. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The Associated Press

In this photo taken April 18, 2018, Space Needle facilities and construction superintendent Matt Waffle points out work being done on the ceiling overhead on the viewing level of the landmark structure in Seattle. The family-owned building is set to unveil the biggest renovation in its 56 year history next month, a $100 million investment in a single year of construction that transformed the structure's top viewing level some 500-feet above ground. The preservation and renovation project included the installation of floor-to-ceiling glass on the viewing deck, updated the structure's physical systems and adds a glass floor to the rotating restaurant. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The Associated Press

In this photo taken April 18, 2018, visitors to the Space Needle watch construction workers move large pieces of glass into position on the viewing platform of the structure in Seattle. The family-owned landmark is set to unveil the biggest renovation in its 56 year history next month, a $100 million investment in a single year of construction that transformed the structure's top viewing level some 500-feet above ground. The preservation and renovation project included the installation of floor-to-ceiling glass on the viewing deck, updated the structure's physical systems and adds a glass floor to the rotating restaurant. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The Associated Press