Space Needle Wins Top Award for Technical Innovation From World Federation of Great Towers

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Nov 18, 2015, 12:50 ET

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Space Needle received the "Technical Innovation Award for Excellence" at the 2015 World Federation of Great Towers annual conference this week in Dubai. The Seattle icon was recognized for two new digital experiences that were introduced earlier this year – the virtual reality app "Space Needle 360°" and "PanoCam," which features continuous scrolling high-definition, 360° images taken every 10 minutes from the top of the tower.

"We have worked diligently to create compelling digital experiences that enhance the guest experience at the Space Needle," said Karen Olson, Space Needle Vice President of Marketing. "It is an extraordinary honor to receive this award from the World Federation of Great Towers, whose membership includes some the world's most recognizable structures, such as the Eiffel Tower and Empire State Building."

"Space Needle 360°" (http://www.spaceneedle.com/vr/ ) is a free virtual reality (VR) mobile app featuring interactive, bird's eye views of Seattle. Space Needle 360° gives users the experience of standing on the Space Needle's spire, walking on the Space Needle's Halo (outermost ring), and flying around Seattle in a seaplane – all in spherical 360° videos and images. The app is among the first of its kind, and one of the first to be put out by a major landmark.

"PanoCam" (http://www.spaceneedle.com/webcam/ ) is a digital experience that opens up the view of Seattle with a continuous scrolling high-definition, 360-degree camera on the very top of the Space Needle. Images are taken every 10 minutes beginning one hour before sunrise and ending one hour after sunset, and are archived dating back to January 1, 2015. PanoCam views are available on the Space Needle's website and through kiosks on the Observation Deck.

The Space Needle is curating a collection of "Best Shots," panoramas taken on days when the weather was exceptionally clear or foggy, along with some of the best sunrises and sunset shots. PanoCam also has built-in time-lapse functionality, letting guests see a day from sunrise to sunset with a click of a button. With built-in HD feeds, TV weather stations can also plug into the view.

This is the second year in a row the award was given to the Space Needle. At last year's WFGT annual conference in New York, the Space Needle received the "Technical Innovation Award for Excellence" for its Skypad, Teleporter and SpaceSpots/augmented reality digital experiences.

The Space Needle hopes to be a candidate for the 2016 WFGT's award as well as it is on the verge of launching "Zoomie," which allows guests to get their photos taken on the Observation Deck from a camera located a half mile away from the tower.

About Space Needle
Built as the centerpiece and inspiration for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, the Space Needle has since become a part of the Seattle experience and the globally-recognized icon for the city. The Space Needle stands 605 feet tall with unparalleled views of Seattle, and houses an Observation Deck, an award-winning restaurant, SkyCity at the Needle, a popular private event venue, and a retail shop. Open year-round, the Space Needle hosts more than a million visitors per year. For more information visit: www.spaceneedle.com

About The World Federation of Great Towers
The World Federation of Great Towers is an international association of great monuments that includes some of the most famous buildings in the world. Today each new tower strives to top the architectural achievements of the towers that came before. Most of the extraordinary buildings in the World Federation of Great Towers have become a symbol of their cities. Modern ingenuity and technology now make it possible to reach incredible heights, and every few years, records are broken.

The World Federation of Great Towers exists to showcase these great towers and celebrate the astonishing feats of architecture and engineering that created them. The Federation also exists to help develop local and international opportunities for its member towers. For more information, please visit: http://www.great-towers.com/