Creative Brief

Originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair, by its 50^th anniversary, the Space Needle visitor experience had grown stale. Thus began a holistic renovation of the upper levels led by Olson Kundig, repositioning the tower for its next 50 years. New Heights: Transforming Seattle’s Iconic Space Needle reveals the story of this incredible project from the perspective of the architects who guided its creation.

Pushing beyond the typical architectural volume, this book digs deeply into how a complex, innovative project happens—from ideating on day 1 to navigating engineering challenges to delivering the final, completed building—through historic images, sketches, technical drawings, and photographs. Two personal essays detail the anxieties, solutions, frustrations, and joys from the perspective of the design principal and project architect, revealing the deeply human story behind the project.

While the Space Needle is a local icon, the themes of this book are universal, appealing to an audience far beyond Seattle. Just as the original tower did in 1962, the revised Space Needle represents the cutting edge of design and construction technology; New Heights celebrates this collective effort, which spanned hundreds of project partners.

The book further highlights Olson Kundig’s expertise in public and cultural work, challenging the perception that the firm primarily designs private homes. As a tool for business development, the book underscores our ability to solve complex challenges, linking outside-the-box thinking with innovative solutions and a proven ability to deliver on big ideas.