A new, double-deck glass elevator from Otis has opened for its first rides to passengers as part of a new experience at the Space Needle. Visitors to the tower can now soar above Seattle in a floor-to-ceiling glass, double-deck elevator. It is the first of three elevators on site that Otis will modernize.
This is the first project in North America, and only the second in the world, to receive Otis’ most powerful high-rise SkyMotion 800 machines, When complete, the Space Needle will feature three modernized Otis SkyRise sightseeing elevators with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that immerse visitors in the world around them as they rise 520 feet into the sky in less than 50 seconds. Two double deck elevators will be able to move up to 46 passengers each in the custom-built cabs. The third elevator will remain a single deck.
“The new elevator is more than a way up, it’s a symbol of where we’re headed,” said Ron Sevart, Space Needle president and CEO. “This reinvestment reflects our commitment — to our guests, our team members and our community — to ensure the Space Needle remains a symbol of Seattle’s innovative spirit for generations to come.”
The new, custom-built elevators will allow more people to fulfill the Space Needle’s mission of bringing visitors to new heights for breathtaking views of Seattle, the Puget Sound and nearby Mount Rainier. Otis installed the original elevators in 1962, modernized them in 1992 and has maintained them throughout.
“Otis is proud to be the company that iconic global projects like the Space Needle choose to safely transport visitors to breathtaking views and share once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” said Joseph Armas, Otis president for the U.S. and Canada. “From day one, Otis has built, installed and continuously serviced the equipment at the Space Needle. Each year, we safely move more than one million people here.”
