Alfred H. Fast (1917-2004), working for the architectural firm John
Graham & Company, was the Project Architect for the Seattle World's Fair
Space Needle. Fast graduated from the School of Architecture at the University
of Vienna in 1938, and served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers on
the Pacific front in World War II. While with John Graham & Company, Fast
also worked on shopping mall projects in Washington and Oregon, including the
Bon Marche, Alderwood Mall and Medford Shopping Mall. Fast also worked for
Pietro Belluschi in Portland, Oregon, Victor Gruen Associates in Los Angeles,
and WESTCOR in Phoenix, Arizona.
Alfred Fast was married to Ruth Fast of Seattle. The couple had two
children, Daniel Fast of Los Angeles and Josey Fast of Seattle.
Content Description
The collection consists largely of photographs which document the
construction of the Space Needle, from ground-breaking to completion. A series
of photographs from Pacific Car and Foundry Company largely documents the
fabrication and erection of the steel work, and a series by Roger Dudley for
John Graham Architects includes several images documenting construction of the
restaurant. Other photographs depict the completed Space Needle as part of the
World's Fair grounds. Other materials include promotional publications
describing the conception and construction of the Space Needle.
Historical Background
The architecture of the 605 feet tall Space Needle, built for the 1962
Seattle World's Fair (Century 21 Exposition), was the result of a collaboration
between businessman Edward E. Carlson and architect John Graham. Inspired by a
visit to the Stuttgart Tower in Germany, Carlson's space-age vision for the
Fair's central structure included a tower resembling a tethered balloon
surrounded by cables; the top of the structure would house a restaurant. Graham
turned the balloon into a flying-saucer shape, and wanted the restaurant to
revolve, like the one in a tower he had previously designed for the Ala Moana
shopping center in Hawaii. A dozen architects in Graham's firm worked on
sketches and ideas, and University of Washington architecture professor Victor
Steinbrueck provided the hour-glass shape of the tower. The final compromise
was reached just a year and a half before the fair was to open. John Graham,
contractor Howard S. Wright and others formed the "Pentagon Corporation" to
finance the project. Howard S. Wright Construction Company was the contractor
for the Space Needle construction and the Pacific Car and Foundry Company
(PACCAR) was the subcontractor for the steel fabrication and erection.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available :
View selections from the collection in digital format
here
or by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory.
Restrictions on Access :
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
Restrictions on Use :
The Museum of History amp; Industry is the owner of the materials in
the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research,
publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI
before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to
all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may
require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation :
Alfred H. Fast Collection on the Space Needle, Museum of History &
Industry, Seattle
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information :
Gift of Josey Fast, Al Fast's daughter, January 24, 2005.
Processing Note :
Processed in 2005 and 2009. The bulk of the construction photographs
were arranged into 2 large series by photographer, and arranged in photographer
number order (which is chronological).
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
Photographs
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Construction
documentation
Folder
1-6
1-57: Roger Dudley
photographs
Roger
Dudley (photographer)
57 photographs
8 x 10 inches
The photographs are 3-hole punched on upper horizontal edge
and printed on lower right border with "Space Needle, John Graham & Co.
Architects, Howard S. Wright Construction Co., Contractors" with a line for the
date, which is written in ink on each photograph. A schematic of the footprint
of the Space Needle is printed in the lower left corner of each photograph,
with an arrow drawn to indicate the viewpoint. Each photograph is also stamped on verso with business stamp
of photographer Roger Dudley. The photographs depict construction of the Space Needle, from
the laying of the underground steel framing to the completed structure. Images
show the concrete foundation, construction of the interior column, steel beam
construction of the legs and the building of the top section, including twenty
views of construction of the restaurant, up to the installation of appliances
and the finished interior. The series also includes two photographs of artist
renderings of the restaurant, and one photograph of rendering of the space
needles and various plan views.
1961 May 15-1962 March 30
7-11
58-100: Pacific Car and Foundry Company
photographs
43
photographs 8 x 10 inches
Photographs of the construction of the Space Needle with an
emphasis on the fabrication and erection of the steel work, which was performed
by Pacific Car and Foundry Company.
1961-1962 May
Other construction related
photographs
Folder
12
101-105: Fire alarm station
5
photographs 3.25 x 4.5 inches
Five street level views of the fire alarm station at 4th
Avenue North between Thomas and John Streets which was demolished for
construction of the Space Needle on the site. Built in 1908, the structure
served as Fire Station 4 from 1908 until 1921. In 1925, the building was
converted to serve as a fire alarm station.
1961 February
13
106-110: Space Needle models and
rendering
5
photographs 8 x 10 inches
Photographs by
Fred Miller Photographers, Seattle;
Yang Color Photography,
Seattle.
Four photographs of a model of the Space Needle and one
photograph of a rendering of the Space Needle Restaurant by R.E. Fansler.
1961-1962
14
111-114: Wind tunnel test
4
photographs 8 x 10 inches
A six foot architectural model of the Space Needle was tested
for air flow, air drag and other issues at the University of Washington wind
tunnel.
1961 March 24
15
115-117: Turntable
construction
3
photographs 8 x 10 inches
3 photographs depicting machinery used to produce parts for
the Space Needle's turntable, including a boring mill and drill press, and one
photograph of a turntable platform section under construction.
1961-1962
16
118-119: Elevator capacity
test
2
photographs 8 x 10 inches
2 photographs showing elevator filled to capacity, viewed from
overhead. One photo shows the elevator filled with women and is inscribed on
verso: 4000# car Nominal full load 38 persons-female. The other shows the
elevator filled with men and is inscribed on verso: 4000# car Nominal full load
27 persons-male.
1961-1962
17
120: Aerial view of Coliseum under
construction
1961-1962
Official publicity
photographs
7
photographs 8 x 10 inches
Each photograph stamped on verso: Complimentary Photographs. The
Seattle World's Fair. Century 21 Exposition. Public Relations Dept. Seattle 9,
Washington. Please reorder by number.
Seven photographs, each accompanied with a captioned typed on a
separate sheet.
1962
Folder
18
121: View of Space Needle and fair
grounds
Accompanying caption: As the monorail speeds to its downtown
station the passengers picked up at the Seattle World's Fair can look back and
see the 600-ft. Space Needle, the Food Circus building, the Washington State
Coliseum and many of the other displays. (World's Fair Photo No. GS
2853mf.)
1962
19
122: Fountain lit at
night
Accompanying caption: This fountain is near the entrance to
the Fine Arts Pavilion at the Seattle World's Fair. Exhibited in the pavilion
is the finest and most extensive collection of painting, sculpture and art
objects ever gathered in the West. (World's Fair Photo No. FA 4955mf.)
1962
20
123: Reflection of Space Needle in
Coliseum windows
Accompanying caption: The Space Needle with its revolving
restaurant is reflected in the tinted windows of the Washington State Coliseum.
(World's Fair Photo No. NC 4377mf.)
1962
21
124: Man in room with pipes under
International Fountain
Accompanying caption: The final adjustment is made on the
water controls beneath the International Fountain. The fountain is lighted for
evening visitors to the Seattle World's Fair. (World's Fair Photo No. F
2920mf.)
1962
22
125: Garden and pond in Oregon State
Exhibit
Accompanying caption: The inside of the Oregon State Exhibit
has a luxurious garden of ferns with water falls and fountains adding extra
life. World's Fair visitors have this exhibit on their must list. (World's Fair
Photo No. 0 4951mf.)
1962
23
126: Night view of
Gayway
Accompanying caption: At night the Gayway is a world of
wonder. Lights shine on happy faces as World's Fair visitors tour the gayway
seeking and finding fun and excitement in the rides and games. (World's Fair
Photo No. 6096mf.)
1962
24
127: Fountains near Science
Exhibit
Accompanying caption: The middle court of the U.S. Science
Exhibit features fountains and pools bridged by raised platforms leading to the
buildings. The exhibit tells the story of science as the scientist would like
to have it told. Congress appropriated $9.5 million for the exhibit. (World's
Fair Photo No. S 2991mf.)
1962
Miscellaneous
photographs
Folder
25
128-133: Views of the Space
Needle
Number 128 and 129 by
Forde Photographers,
Seattle.
6
photographs 8 x 10 inches
1962
26
134: Four men being served tea by a
waitress at the Space Needle construction site
The table at which the men are seated is on top of what
appears to be the turntable for the top of the Space Needle, which will support
the eventual restaurant.
Identifications attached to verso: A.H. Fast, Project
Architect, John Graham & Company L.A. Myhre, Vice-President and
Division Manager, Western Gear Corp. Jack Borg, President, Top of the
Needle, Inc. Harlan S. Bixby, Howard S. Wright Construction Co. Kathy
Dolan, Model
1961-1962
27
135: Rendering of the Bon Marche at
Alderwood Mall
136: "The Space Needle--Fact Sheet"
prepared by Carl Gruff Associates, New York, for John Graham &
Company
12 pages
Promotional article describing the Space Needle, including its
conception, its design and construction, and safety testing, with sections
about the turntable and Eye of the Needle restaurant.
undated
29
137: Pamphlet: Special Report from
United States Steel on the Space Needle
2 pages
circa 1961
29
138: Space Needle USA, book by Harold
Mansfield and George Gulacsik
72 pages
1962
30
139: Artists' Sketchbook of the Seattle World's
Fair, souvenir book with reproductions of drawings by Charles
Swanberg
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
