‘Scuse us while we marvel over the Pacific Science Center arches. After 60 years, they still have that youthful glow. 💡
Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the ornate structures came from famed arch-itect Minoru Yamasaki. He used elements of Gothic cathedrals and Japanese gardens as inspiration and put ‘em together with the concrete prowess of another pioneer, Jack Christiansen. 🏗️
Minoru also designed the Rainier Tower and was the lead architect for the World Trade Center.
More facts for trivia night:
- The arches are each 132-feet tall
- Minoru was originally going to design one big tower, but got wind of a little thing called the Space Needle — so plans changed to avoid competition.
- A new LED lighting system debuted in 2021 to alter colors for events + holidays.
Wanna learn more about the PacSci visionary? Minoru’s granddaughter Katie recently released a children’s picture book this month celebrating his legacy — a perfect bedtime story for design fans. 📘
