Space Needle to unveil North America’s 1st Skyliner elevator in $100M modernization
SEATTLE — The Space Needle’s new Skyliner, the first elevator of its kind in North America, opens to the public on Friday.
The new Skyliner is a double deck, floor-to-ceiling glass elevator, “completely transforming the trip to the top” of the Space Needle.
The unveiling marks a significant milestone in a privately funded $100 million modernization project, which aims to honor the original design intent of the Seattle landmark, according to the Space Needle.
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“Early concepts of the tower included double deck, spaceship-style elevators that zipped Guests to the top and back,” wrote the Space Needle. “In 1962, there wasn’t the time or technology to make those dreams a reality. Now, there is. This privately funded $100 million modernization project will replace all three of the Space Needle’s elevator cabs, and elevator machines and top off the newly updated, all-glass experience at Seattle’s landmark.”
The Space Needle continued to note that Otis, the world’s largest manufacturer of vertical transportation systems, is leading the project.
Otis built the original Space Needle elevators, as well as those at the Eiffel Tower.