The Sunsphere in Knoxville.

info from emporis:
Location
Street World's Fair Park
Postcode 37902
City Knoxville
Country U.S.A.

Technical Data
Height 81 m 265 ft
Construction 1982


Building in General
Type of construction high-rise building
Style modern
Status completed completed
- This structure features a 5-level sphere atop, with a revolving level that houses a restaurant.
- The Sunsphere was featured in an episode of the Simpsons where it was referred to as being the "Wigsphere.".
- The sphere contains 360 golden glass panels that are each coated with 24-carat gold dust.
- The sphere portion of the tower has a diameter of exactly 74 feet.
- Was built as the theme structure of the 1982 World’s Fair to symbolize the sun itself as a powerful source of energy in keeping with the fair’s theme of “Energy Turns the World”.
- Topped off on August 24, 1981.
- Upon its completion, this became the first spherical building in the United States.
- During the fair between May and October of 1982, over 60,000 people visited the Sunsphere everyday.
- The Sunsphere is now the most recognizable feature of the Knoxville skyline, and from its observation deck visitors enjoy panoramic views of city and the surrounding mountain vistas.
- In the original designs, the sphere portion would have had a diameter of 86.5 feet to symbolize the 865,000 mile diameter of the sun


and the pics
http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/photos/05.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/2524870720_1bbe4ba299_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/293166194_a0309ed43c_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/319248683_5544743902_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/365535226_22a37fa84d_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/3017731858_7be3f6513b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3446/3797290850_867bcd5c6a_b.jpg

:lol: The Wigsphere, classic episode.

6/10

AWESOME!!! it's everything that's great, gaudy 80s...

growing up in Knoxville, i've got...fond memories of this thing. now it's empty, although the pro-active county mayor (Knoxville's a county/city that should be consolidated b/c it's so sprawled) wants to reopen it as a tourist attraction, which is a brilliant idea.

-

5/10
Very ordinary style.

ordinary? I give it 10/10

haha neat..10/10

4

haha no.

Interesting, but could have been taller. Not especially dazzling, but certainly not dull. An 8.

1, talk about a disco ball, that is such an eyesor you can get blind.

7/10

6/10

I don't like much

6. Type of construction, giant disco ball.

i prefer dont rate it in the poll with a 4, sorry

6/10

7/10.

nice design...7,5!

8/10

6/10

5/10

4/10

Awesome!

8/10

7/10

Ah, good memories of the Simpsons. Just for being mentioned in that it deserves an 8 for it's cheesiness.

7/10

8/10

5/10

6,5/10

6/10

I thought it was knocked over when Bart Simpson crashed a car into it? :)

I'll say 8/10 on uniqueness.

6.5 not into it.

6/10

10/10:banana:

6/10

3 or less.

8/10

5/10

8/10

5,5/10

updated post nr.1

4/10

6/10

7/10

8/10

8. Good. Regards.

7/10

8/10

4/10

7/10