WATCH THIS SPACE

Seattle’s best known architectural landmark, the Space Needle, is nearing the end of a US$100 million makeover that brings it even closer to original architect John Graham’s conceptual design. By June, cleaner sight lines will greet visitors at the 184-meter-high observation deck, where exterior walls have been replaced by floor-to-ceiling glass to maximize views over the city and Puget Sound. Gone too will be the unsightly wire enclosure on the open-air platform: in its place a ring of 48 canted glass slabs and attached benches for an extra dose of adrenalin. Down two levels, the SkyCity restaurant is reopening in May with a brand-new rotating glass floor and a fresh look by New York–based designer Adam D. Tihany ( spaceneedle.com).