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.
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.
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.
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The collection is open to the public by appointment.
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.
Alfred H. Fast Collection on the Space Needle, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Gift of Josey Fast, Al Fast's daughter, January 24, 2005.
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).
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.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
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.
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.
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.
Four photographs of a model of the Space Needle and one photograph of a rendering of the Space Needle Restaurant by R.E. Fansler.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.)
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.)
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.)
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.)
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.)
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.)
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
Unrelated to the Space Needle construction. Alfred Fast worked on the Bon Marche project for John Graham & Company.
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.