Space Lift

GOING UP: On Thursday morning, MPA's student body took a field trip to Seattle's #1 landmark, the Space Needle. 

It certainly wasn't their first visit there, but it was a trip like no other, as they got to get an up close look at the Space Needle's extensive, expensive remodel underway. 

Annabelle can tell you a bit more about it. ... 

The Space Needle, as it’s written on the banners that cover scaffolding on the observation deck and on the ground, is getting a “Spacelift”. Around the “Space Base” gift shop is where it’s most apparent, with small hallways made of black fabric stretched between metal piping. 

Our field trip was escorted through those and past lines by an employee, and we walk single-file up the stairs to see the bag check now blocked by two metal detectors. One by one, we slowly make our way through and pack the elevators to the observation deck.

Once we reach the top, it smells like fresh kettle corn- which we soon see popping- and sawdust from the circular saw we can hear from past the plywood. 

The outside has been opened since last time, but you still can’t access half of the needle through the locked, temporary wooden door.

The glass panes that have been installed are at least an inch and a half thick, and there are three of them glued on top of each other for each section of window.

The weather outside is cold and misty, not lending much to the view that would normally be there had it not been for clouds. The trip was short, but the Space Needle is making progress.

And CJ had this to say about the experience. ... 

Before seeing the documentary Pandas 3D at the Pacific Science Center, I visited the iconic (and currently in-renovation) Space Needle, located with the Pacific Science Center downtown. I visited on a Cascade Parent Partnership Program field trip, despite the fact that I am no longer enrolled at Cascade.

I was chaperoned by my older brother Ken. Once the elevator finished bringing us to the top of the Needle, most of the top interior was obviously not complete. Many of the walls and some of the floor was visibly wood.

Strangely, a smell of caramel corn permeated the interior. I later learned that this smell came from bags of caramel corn where the concessions stand was during prior visits.

We briefly visited the exterior, where there is normally a great view of much of Seattle (and the surrounding area, including the Bellevue skyline). However, on this visit, the view was covered by thick fog.

Per the Space Needle's webpage about their renovation, the work "will update the structure’s physical systems and elevate the visitor experience by dramatically enhancing the view. Privately funded, the ambition project will heighten the Observation Deck experience with floor-to-ceiling glass on the interior and exterior to further open up the uninhibited 360-degree views of the Puget Sound. The 500′ level will be reimagined with a first-of-its-kind rotating glass floor revealing downward views of the structures never seen before."

Here is some video of the project: https://youtu.be/yjF_Trx8Q4s

After the Space Needle experience, the kids caught the monorail to Westlake Station. Shocking to me, it was Kennedy's first time riding the monorail.

Too bad he didn't have a more picturesque trip. Seattle was absolutely saturated on Thursday.

Here they are on the way into and through MoPop.

And below is a shot in what looks like South Lake Union. 

 Despite the downpour, the three still had a great outing.