DesignED EP.159 - Alan Maskin and Blair Payson - Olson Kundig

Arguably one of the most iconic structures on the West Coast, the Space Needle defines the Seattle skyline. When the private owners decided to embark on a major renovation, they tapped local group Olson Kundig to lead the project. This podcast invites design principal Alan Maskin, and project architect, Blair Payson to discuss their approach to the project, challenges, and the process of working closely with the City of Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board (LPB), local architecture historians and preservationists, a surviving original Space Needle structural engineer, and the community to be consistent with the original design intent and respect the character defining features of the Space Needle.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the basic history of the construction of the original Space Needle.
2. Explain some of the challenges Olson Kundig encountered when designing the iconic structure.
3. Discuss how working with a private ownership helped enhance and expand the design opportunities in the retrofit project.
4. Characterize the general attitude of the public before, during, and after the retrofit project.

Credits: 0.5 AIA LU/HSW

Speaker: Aaron Prinz