Knoxville Sunsphere

Location

Knoxville, Tennessee

Owner

City of Knoxville

Architect

Bruce B. Thompson, Community Tectonics

Engineers

Socrates A. Ioannides and Jack H. Horner, Stanley D. Lindsey and Associates

Lightweight Aggregate Supplier

Stalite Lightweight Aggregate

Description

The Knoxville Sunsphere was constructed as the theme structure for the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. Rising 266 feet, the structure consists of a hexagonal steel truss tower topped with a 74-foot gold glass–clad sphere that has become an iconic part of the city skyline.

Five floor slabs within the dome utilized concrete produced with Stalite Lightweight Aggregate, reducing dead load while maintaining structural strength and long-term performance.

During the World’s Fair, the sphere housed observation decks on the top and bottom floors, along with a 260-seat restaurant on the second and third levels. The fourth floor contained the kitchen and a 38-seat VIP dining room. Three glass elevators provided access to the upper levels, offering panoramic views of downtown Knoxville and the Smoky Mountains.

Most recently, the Sunsphere has been used as office space for the Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau.