The Space Needle Elevator Modernization project has garnered the 2026 Outstanding Preservation Project Award from the ASCE Seattle Section’s Local Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (LOCEA) awards program.
The project team accepted the honor at the awards dinner in Seattle last week, with vertical transportation consultant and DeSimone Principal Kelly Houlihan joining key project representatives from a multi-disciplinary team that includes Arup, Olson Kundig, Turner Construction Company, Otis Elevator Co., Space Needle Group, and BEF INK.
Houlihan has played a central role in advancing the 10+ year project, which has involved reimagining and modernizing the elevators for the 1962-built, 605-foot-tall Space Needle, among other key innovations. The first elevator, completed last May, featured the replacement of one of the icon’s elevators with the largest machine Otis Elevator makes (normally only seen in supertall skyscrapers) and technologically advanced, double-deck elevators operating in a single, external hoistway.
The design and installation of the new cab has resulted in a greatly enhanced visitor experience, with more visitors transported more quickly than ever to the Space Needle’s 520-foot-high observation deck—embracing transparency to maximize panoramic views along the way.
The last two phases of the project are projected to be complete in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Congratulations to the team and Space Needle Group on receiving this honor!
Pictured above at the ASCE Seattle Section LOCEA Awards dinner (L to R): Josh Chudnofsky (Turner), Steve Lambie (Olson Kundig), DeSimone’s Kelly Houlihan, Brian Markham (MKA), Nicole Greene (Space Needle), Erik Simon (Turner Construction Company), Amanda Packer (Turner Construction), Garret McCorkel (Turner Construction), Coral Ng (Turner Construction), Alicia Pedneault (Arup).
Read more about DeSimone’s vertical transportation consultants here: https://lnkd.in/dv4ditvU
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