Xenodream + PSP (frame and text) Designed by the engineer André Waterkeyn for the International Exhibition of Brussels, that took place here in 1958, the Atomium is a structure that is half way between sculpture and architecture, symbolising an iron crystal by the scale of its atoms, magnified 165 billion times. Work was started in March 1956. Made entirely of steel clad with aluminium. The particular position chosen for the cube, i.e., resting on one sphere with a vertical diagonal, was essentially dictated by esthetical reasons. The Atomium was not intended to survive the Exhibition of 1958. Its popularity and success, however, ensured its place as a major landmark on the Brussels skyline. Dimensions of the Atomium The Atomium is 334.6. ft. high ; the spheres have a diameter of 59.0 ft ; weight of 2400 tons. The distance between the spheres, measured on the sides of the cube, is 95.1 ft ; the diameter of the tubes is 9.8 ft. The diagonal tubes are 75.4 ft long and of 10.8 ft diameter. The escalators installed inside the tubes of the Atomium are amongst the longest in Europe. The largest is 114.8 ft long. They can take 3,000 persons per hour. The elevator speed â?? the highest in Europe â?? is 16.4 ft/sec. It takes visitors up to the top sphere in 23 seconds and its capacity is 22 persons. The restaurant in the top sphere can sit 140 persons and the viewpoint situated below can contain 250 persons. Thatâ??s the Brusselsâ?? Big Lady ! http://www.atomium.be/Article.aspx?lang=en&id=14