Editing Sunsphere

{{use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{for|the hypothetical sphere built around a star|Dyson sphere}}
{{Infobox building
| image = Sunsphere 01.jpg
| name = Sunsphere
| address = {{nowrap|963 World's Fair Park Drive}}<br />[[Knoxville, Tennessee]]<br />37916
| coordinates = {{coord|35.9617|-83.9232|region:US-TN|display=inline,title}}
| roof = {{convert|81.07|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| completion_date = 1982
| structural_engineer = Stanley D. Lindsey and Associates, Ltd.
| architect = Don Shell<ref name="architecturalicon">{{cite news |last1=Shearer |first1=John |title=Sunsphere shines as the city's architectural icon |url=http://archive.knoxnews.com/entertainment/life/sunsphere-shines-as-the-citys-architectural-icon-ep-358561133-356023081.html |accessdate=4 October 2020 |work=[[Knoxville News Sentinel]] |date=March 22, 2013}}</ref> [[List of Latin phrases (E)#et_alii|(''et alii'')]]
| building_type = [[Observation tower]]
| start_date = 1981
| owner = City of Knoxville
| architectural_style = [[Modern architecture|Modernism]], [[High-tech architecture|High-tech]]<ref name="sah">{{cite web |title=Sunsphere |url=https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/TN-01-093-0078 |website=Society of Architectural Historians |date=July 17, 2018 |access-date=April 21, 2022}}</ref>
| opened_date = {{start date and age|1982|05|01}}
| website = {{URL|https://worldsfairpark.org/sunsphere}}
}}

The '''Sunsphere''' is a {{convert|266|ft|adj=on}} tall [[hexagon]]al [[steel]] [[truss]] structure located in [[World's Fair Park]] in downtown [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], United States. It is topped with the {{convert|75|ft|m|0|adj=on}} gold-colored glass [[sphere]] that served as the symbol of the [[1982 World's Fair]]. Directly across a man-made pond from the [[Tennessee Amphitheater]], they are the only remaining structures from the fair.<ref>{{cite news | author=Amy McRary| title=World's Fair: The world came to Knoxville in May 1982 | url=http://www.knoxnews.com/entertainment/life/knoxvilles-225-years-the-world-came-to-knoxville-in-1982--33212d02-dcbe-66f2-e053-0100007fde44-381016021.html | work=[[Knoxville News Sentinel]] | date=28 May 2016}}</ref>

==Design==
Designed by the Knoxville-based [[architectural firm]] Community Tectonics, the Sunsphere was noted for its unique design in several [[engineering]] publications.<ref name="November 26, 1981">{{cite news |title=Far-out designs add flair to fair |newspaper=Engineering News-Record |date=November 26, 1981}}</ref> It was originally to have had a diameter of {{convert|86.5|ft|m}}{{snd}}symbolically that of the hypothetical {{convert|865000|mi|adj=on}} diameter of the disc of the [[Sun]].<ref name="November 26, 1981"/> The tower's window glass panels are layered in 24-karat [[gold]] dust and cut to seven different shapes. It weighs {{convert|600|ST}} and features six double [[steel]] [[truss]] columns in supporting the seven-story sphere.<ref name="November 26, 1981"/> The tower has a volume of {{convert|203689|ft3}} and a surface of {{convert|16742|ft2}}.<ref name="November 26, 1981"/>

==History==
During the fair it cost {{US$|2|1982}} to take the elevator to the tower's [[observation deck]]. The tower served as a restaurant and featured food items such as the "Sunburger" and a rum and fruit juice cocktail called the "Sunburst".<ref>{{cite news
| title = Gate to Gate, Many Choices | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB293E32A0D5C51&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | format = fee required| work = The Philadelphia Inquirer| date=May 30, 1982}}</ref> In the early morning hours on May 12, 1982, a shot was fired from outside the fair site and shattered one of the sphere's windows. No one was arrested for the incident.<ref name="May 13, 1982">{{cite news |title=Fair structure damaged |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 13, 1982}}</ref>

The Sunsphere has been used as a symbol for Knoxville, appearing in postcards and [[logo]]s. Between 1993 and 1999, the Sunsphere was featured in part on the logo for the [[Tennessee Smokies|Knoxville Smokies]] [[minor league baseball]] club. The 2002 [[AAU Junior Olympics]] [[mascot]] ''Spherit'' took its inspiration from the landmark.<ref name="March 6, 2006">{{cite news |title=Monumental stats; Ever Wonder?; From the Sunsphere to Sharps Ridge, some facts and figures about our local landmarks |first=Douglas |last=Hullander |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=March 6, 2006}}</ref> It featured red hair and a body shaped like the Sunsphere.<ref name="March 6, 2006"/> On Sunday, May 14, 2000, [[nuclear weapons]] protesters scaled the tower and hung a large banner saying "Stop the Bombs". They remained on the tower for three days before surrendering to police.<ref name="May 17, 2000">{{cite news |title=Bomb protesters surrender |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=May 17, 2000}}</ref>

==Redevelopment==
In March 1991, officials from the [[Pensacola Tornados]] of the [[Continental Basketball Association]] were looking at Knoxville for possible location and said of the Sunsphere as potential office space, "What better place for basketball offices than a giant gold basketball in the sky."<ref>{{cite news |title=CBA team executives to pay visit |first=Jimmy |last=Hyams |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=March 17, 1991}}</ref>

In March 1994 the World's Fair Park Development Committee sought to reopen the Sunsphere as a restaurant (similar to [[Seattle]]'s [[Space Needle]], which features a restaurant at the top): CEB Enterprises would have opened a casual dining restaurant called World's Fare Restaurant; Cierra Restaurant Group would have opened a fine dining restaurant. Both proposals failed.<ref name="April 1, 1994">{{cite news |title=Restaurant groups envision Sunsphere for 'high dining' |first=Jacquelyn B. |last=Dean |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=April 1, 1994}}</ref>
[[File:Sunsphere night.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|left|The Sunsphere at night, with the Convention Center visible in the foreground]]

The Sunsphere was proposed to be included as part of the new [[Knoxville Convention Center]]. While not physically incorporated into the final design, the Convention Center was designed with an open curve along its north edge to allow access to the Sunsphere. During construction of the Convention Center, the observation deck{{snd}}which the city had briefly reopened, still sporting the original World's Fair-era displays and explanations of the panorama{{snd}}was closed while the tower was commandeered by the Knoxville Public Building Authority as offices for, quite literally, overseeing construction of the Convention Center.<ref name="January 21, 1999">{{cite news |title=Future of Sunsphere is up in air; Empty now, it may become function of convention center |first=Jim |last=Balloch |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=January 21, 1999}}</ref>

==Reopening==
The Level 4 observation deck was reopened on July 5, 2007, to give visitors a view of Knoxville. The observation deck can hold 86 people.<ref name="July 6, 2007">{{cite news |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/jul/06/the-view-from-above/ |title=World's Fair Park main attraction reopened to the public Thursday |first=Paul N. |last=Whitehead |newspaper=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=July 6, 2007 |access-date=June 11, 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708083634/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/jul/06/the-view-from-above/ |archive-date=July 8, 2007}}</ref> At the time of its reopening, Level{{nbs}}5 became a cafe with [[Concession stand|concession]] and an early evening drinks service. Level{{nbs}}6 served as an open space leased out for functions. As of October 2013, both the 7th and 8th floors are available for commercial rental.<ref>{{cite web|last=Flory |first=Josh |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/oct/29/josh-flory-office-space-available-in-the/ |title=Josh Flory: Office space available in the Sunsphere » Knoxville News Sentinel |publisher=Knoxnews.com |date= |access-date=2014-02-24}}</ref>

[[File:The Sunsphere in Knoxville, TN.png|thumb|The Sunsphere at Knoxville (close-up portrait)]]

On August 27, 2008, the 5th floor was opened as the SkyBox bar and lounge. It eventually closed, however, and real estate investor Tony Capiello opened Icon Ultra Lounge in its place, investing $450,000.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harrington |first=Carly |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/oct/26/carly-harrington-sunsphere-nightclub-icon-ultra/ |title=Carly Harrington: Sunsphere nightclub 'Icon Ultra Lounge' opens with big city feel |work=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=October 26, 2012 |access-date=2014-02-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029234137/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/oct/26/carly-harrington-sunsphere-nightclub-icon-ultra/ |archive-date=2012-10-29}}</ref>

In June 2013, a patron accidentally broke an inside window; nobody was hurt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://downtown.wbir.com/news/news/612862-sunsphere-window-shatters-bar-accident |title=Sunsphere window shatters in bar accident &#124; News &#124; Downtown - UT News |publisher=Downtown.wbir.com |date=2013-06-28 |access-date=2014-02-24}}</ref> On November 13, 2013, it was announced that Visit Knoxville would update and renovate the 4th floor of the observation deck.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=http://www.wbir.com/story/news/local/downtown-ut/2013/11/15/sunsphere-renovations-knoxville/3593983/ |title=Visit Knoxville getting ball rolling on Sunsphere renovations |publisher=WBIR.com |date=2013-11-15 |access-date=2024-07-31 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140201024834/http://www.wbir.com/story/news/local/downtown-ut/2013/11/15/sunsphere-renovations-knoxville/3593983/ |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>{{Update inline|date=April 2021}}

The Sunsphere observation deck was closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Visit Knoxville reopened the Sunsphere observation deck on February 22, 2022. The floor offers a 360-degree view stretching from downtown to the Great Smoky Mountains, including World's Fair Park, the Tennessee River, and the University of Tennessee Campus. Visitors can also view a 1982 World's Fair timeline, gallery, memorabilia, and gift shop.

==In popular culture==
A March 1996 episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'', "[[Bart on the Road]]", features the Sunsphere.<ref name="January 3, 2007">{{cite news |title=Sunsphere remains pop-culture icon |first=M. Trevor |last=Higgins |newspaper=Chattanooga Times Free Press |date=January 3, 2007}}</ref> [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] and three friends ([[Nelson Muntz|Nelson]], [[Martin Prince Jr.|Martin]], and [[Milhouse Van Houten|Milhouse]]) travel to Knoxville to visit the World's Fair, only to learn they are over a decade too late. In the episode, the Sunsphere has become a dilapidated storage warehouse for a wig store called the Wigsphere.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-sunsphere-knoxville-tennessee | title=The Sunsphere }}</ref> Nelson then throws a rock at the Sunsphere, causing it to topple over and land on top of their rental car, destroying it and stranding them in Knoxville.<ref name="January 3, 2007"/>

The Sunsphere has also been called "The Lord's Golf Tee".<ref name="coffey">{{cite web |last1=Coffey |first1=Don |title=Knoxville, Tennessee - Localzine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MC0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Sunsphere&pg=PA62 |website=CMJ New Music Monthly |access-date=21 November 2022 |date=May 1997}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Further reading===
*{{cite book |title=Knoxville's Sunsphere: Biography of a Landmark |first=Martha Rose |last=Woodward |year=2007 |publisher=Kan sasana Printer |isbn=978-0-89826-137-0}}

==External links==
*[https://www.worldsfairpark.org/sunsphere The Sunsphere] (World's Fair Park website)

{{Knoxville, Tennessee}}

[[Category:1982 establishments in Tennessee]]
[[Category:buildings and structures completed in 1982]]
[[Category:buildings and structures in Knoxville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:buildings and structures with revolving restaurants]]
[[Category:culture of Knoxville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:restaurants established in 1982]]
[[Category:restaurants in Tennessee]]
[[Category:tourist attractions in Knoxville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:towers in Tennessee]]
[[Category:world's fair architecture in Tennessee]]
[[Category:1982 World's Fair]]
[[Category:Symbols of cities]]