Designed by architects William Pereira and Charles Luckman, this floating spiral staircase was located in the lobby of Building 1 of Convair’s Kearny Mesa, California.

Embodying the Cold War aesthetics of 'aerospace modernism', the staircase spiralled around and above a pool, making one complete turn and consisted of a five-inch-thick ramp hung on stainless steel rods that were attached to points on the ceiling. The pool below the staircase flowed outside under a glass wall and connected to a larger reflective pool. A dramatic architectural statement, the pool also served another function as a reservoir for fire water.