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Tallest Building in Minneapolis.
Some of you probably have heard that the IDS Building is the tallest skyscraper in Minneapolis, but that's only if you count Emporis.com's window washing place on top. Really, since that isn't the roof of the actual building, that doesn't count according to some people, and I think it's legit enough. So now that the IDS isn't the tallest building, what is? 225 South Sixth, (the building with the halo) comes in at the real first place, then followed by the IDS, therefore followed by the Wells Fargo building, which is the tannish rectangular building.
49 Reader Comments
What is the emporis.com window washing place?
The window washing place isn't affiliated with emporis but it is reported that in 2005 Emporius recognized the new 16' tall window washing warehouse on the top of the IDS as a part of the permanent structure and therefore making the IDS the tallest building in Minneapolis again.
IDS gets honorary tallest in my book, because the architect of 225 South Sixth lied about the height (he said it was 1 foot shorter than the IDS building) because people didn't want a taller building. Then, he later revealed that it was the tallest by one foot.
Emporis rocks. I've been using that site for a long time. You guys might wanna check www.skyscrapercity.com and www.skyscraperpage.com
They rock also!
I heard they might build another tower that will be much taller than those 3. Supposedly United Health and Opus would move a lot of the offices to this new tower.
Yes, but the question has already been posed in The Rake: Which is the most seductive?
Here is a nice article about the IDS also in The Rake. No, I am not related to the Bartels.
I was truely pissed off about that 225 South Sixth story when it came out. The asshole project manager took it upon himself to raise the Halo more than necessary so that it would be higher than the IDS.
Why would you build something higher than the IDS unless your cock is tiny and you need to prove your a man? Maybe the new Opus/United Health Building will be pink too and inflate another story when its really excited.
Simpleton: It's not the height that's important, it's the girth.
The IDS is the tallest. EOD.
The halo building is a schizophrenic fraud that should be demolished. Also on the demolish list should be that towering dog terd sticking up out of the City Center. It looks like a grocery sack and dominates the skyline view from the new Twins stadium. Tear that Janet Reno of a building down and it would be a beautiful look at all three big buildings (until they demolish the halo building).
When I heard Target was looking to expand I had hoped they would build a new building that would definitively be the tallest. I was imagining a cylindrical red building angled at the top to show the Target bullseye. I think with its local roots and community involvement Target was deserving of what is apparently a sacred honor in Minneapolis. I also think it would have given a breath of new life into what to me is a rather drab downtown office scene.
Target didn't have a real successful run through the approval process for the Plaza buildings and will most likely shift more and more workers to the Brooklyn Park Campus as job function will permit.
City Center is nicer now on the inside and people are still crossing their fingers about a potential Best Buy going in now that Sam Goode is gone.
I was imagining a cylindrical red building angled at the top to show the Target bullseye.
Holy shit, that would be ugly. But also kind of cool....
Wells Fargo and the Government Center are the most aesthetically pleasing.
Just sayin'.
Ya, I think in about 10 years the city will be wishing they had built a better relationship with Target.
The government center? Ick!
I have a wonderful relationship with Target.
Maybe a co-dependent relationship, but wonderful.
Oops, I meant the courthouse. The one with the curve and the funny little hills in the front.
Slightly off topic, are they still planning on building the Nicollet, what with only about 10% of condos reserved? (Forgive me if this number is incorrect; guessing here.) I know it will be shorter than the three tallest buildings, but, if built, won't it have more floors than the others? I guess residences don't need as much height as offices.
The Nicollet just dropped their real estate agency and signed up with a new one. I don't have the details but I'm guessing the old one was not getting the people in the door.
Where is The Realtor when we need him?
Ooh Ooh...I found the link and it syncs in with a former Mnspeak topic!
Edina Realty is taking over from our favorite slum lord at the Nicollet.
I love it when a plan comes together!
I meant alleged slum lord! Sorry, the lawyers can stop calling now!
I heard they might build another tower that will be much taller than those 3. Supposedly United Health and Opus would move a lot of the offices to this new tower.
Where did you hear that Rod G?
Ya I've heard nothing about that and I like to think I keep up with the latest news on tall buildings.
1) The high-rise condo market in other cities has bottomed out, and although I have no stats, I would guess that we've reached the saturation point in MPLS. As such, I'm putting the following odds on the Nicollet:
1) being built with the original specs: 20-to-1 against.
2) being built in a scaled back form: even ods
3) being supplanted by Target offices: 3-to-1 against
Any takers?
BTW...The funny hills & curves in front of the courthouse are meant to deter would-be car bombers
Also, I can't see United Health moving their corporate campus from Minedina Praire as it would increase Billy Mac's commute time.
Shameless plug...the graves 601 is the tallest building between Hennepin Ave and Fargo, ND and the upper floors will have a grand view of the new baseball stadium. Book now for opening day 2010!
I've heard rumor that Dr. McGuire has purchased a pricey downtown condo next to the Guthrie, and coincidently also next to the $10 million dollar park he's building by the river.
So perhaps the commute wouldn't be that long after all?
Dr. McGuire: "Jeeves, Downtown it is. But the lawn situation is abominable!"
Jeeves: "Sir, if I may suggest...a park?"
Dr. McGuire: "A park? Ingenius! Glad I thought of it."
Jeeves: "Of course, sir."
When the option indictments come, will the Guthrie rename the "McGuire Proscenium Stage" sort of like they did in Houston with Enron Field?
BTW...The funny hills & curves in front of the courthouse are meant to deter would-be car bombers
As are the little cement square posts. Many places have them now. I was in Chicago a few months back and walked by some and thought it must be some important building and sure enough...federal courthouse. They've also installed similar barricades around the Metrodome in recent years, in addition to the giant trucks they park outside for big events.
And didn't the TV guy say something about not being able to shoot footage inside the IDS tower or something?
225 South 6th Represent.
You mooks ever been in here? It's a fantastic building, inside and out.
Indeed. The TV guy did say that.
if anyone has interest i have some pictures from of the skyscrapers from the tops of other skyscrapers:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bietz/7832191/in/set-195520/
it is from when i was working for a consulting firm that was going to put wifi up there.
Those are great. Makes my 9th floor office look like small beans.
I definitely think that the Wells Fargo building is the nicest looking one of the three. Besides, if Minneapolis was ever used as a stand-in for Metropolis, wouldn't it look great with "LEXCORP" stamped on the side? ;-)
Hank chooses 225 South Sixth
I have been on the roof of the IDS for the July 4th fireworks and can confirm that the IDS building is the tallest building in the state of Minnesota. In fact, I got engaged on the roof last September which was really cool. When I was up there you can tell that the other buildings are not as tall.
That's my eyewitness story. Thanks.
Really, you can see the fireworks from up there? I can never see over the IDS to watch the fireworks.
That's cool John! Grats! I might have seen you guys as I was on top of 225 for the 4th. Unfortunately I was looking down on you if you were on the IDS as 225 is a whole meter taller unless you were watching the display from on top of their lame ass window washing shack. Where I'm sure the answer would have been no if that was the case. ;-)
JK - That rox that you were on top of the IDS. Any pix? Here's a couple I took from the Aquatennial display. It was fantastic!
Nice PS of 225 Doug :-)
You inspired me to start a flikr account mikebietz. Thanks
Glad you're in the hizouze 'damn right we're tall'
I'm guessing 225 lied about their height because they didn't want to have to pay to move the telecommunications from IDS to their building. It's why Norwest didn't build taller than IDS when it went up.
Also....
"It is unclear if the height of 225 South Sixth reaches to the top of the "halo" surrounding the screen walls (walls designed to hide cooling towers on the roof), so the height of the flat roof might be somewhat shorter, or that building might similarly be able to add to its height by including the additional structure. Presently, the IDS is considered to be 15 feet (4.6 m) taller than the former First Bank Tower."
P.S. IMHO The Wells Fargo building (formerly Norwest Tower) is the best looking building in the Twin Cities.
It's all debatable since there are really 4 criteria to measure a building's heighth.
1) Tip Height - measured to the absolute top
2) Structural height - measured to the last 'integral structural element'
3) Highest occupied floor
4) Roof height
Nonetheless, the World Council on Tall Buildings has decided that criteria #2 is the only one that counts
http://www.646industries.com/mt/beyond_s/archives/000088.html
So the IDS does officially rank #1 according to the WCTB. But I can still climb up to one of the landings located next to the halo on 225 and look down on the window washing shack of the IDS. I just don't think it would be easy to rent out that landing is all. ;-)
It's why Norwest didn't build taller than IDS when it went up.
Very interesting THX. I didn't know that. Huh
FYI - Here's what the highest point in the Twin Cities looks like. I've stood up there. I can vouch for the claim. You actually look down on the halo. WOW!
That picture is showing the highest point a person can stand. The actual highest point in the cities are the Telefarm Towers in Shoreview followed by the radio towers on the IDS.
Will somebody clue me in as to how a person gets to be on top of these buildings? So many seem to be able to do it so regularly. Is the Halo solid? Can you sit on it? That would be sweet.
Incidentally, those pictures show why I can never see the fireworks from Uptown. If you're on top of a building looking down on them, there's no way I could see them from that far. Which is disappointing, because at home in Iowa we can see fireworks from 30 miles away.
how a person gets to be on top of these buildings?
Connections
Is the Halo solid? Can you sit on it?
It's solid but I wouldn't want to climb out on the beam to get there.
there's no way I could see them from that far
I agree. The main thing to remember is that fireworks always look better around water. I suppose they could do them from one of the lakes but they don't have the bridges to support such a big display.
Incidentally, St. Paul Park's fireworks were tonight. They were pretty lame but we found a spot along the other side of the river that helped with the display that you wouldn't find anywhere near where they were actually shot from. Which helped make up for how small of a show it was.
My point with the fireworks was that they don't even go 750 feet up in the air. Pathetic! On a clear July 4 back home you can see multiple fireworks shows from your own front yard if you're facing the right direction.
Oh, I see, there's a little space in there. Yikes! Why doesn't anybody have tower tours or something where people can go the the tops of them and walk around and stuff. You shouldn't have to have connections to do cool stuff like that.
You shouldn't have to have connections to do cool stuff like that.
I totally agree. I was way bummed when you couldn't go to the top of the IDS anymore. I did manage a few times at the Windows lounge and a couple of weddings later on but it just wasn't the same. My wife and I went up to the observation decks of both the Sears and Hancock towers in Chicago. They didn't look like they were going broke by all the long lines and people buying trinkets. I'm sure one of the three downtown big boys could pull it off. As far as I know, that top floor of the IDS where they cater parties sits dead most of the time. Seems like a no brainer to me.
I'm glad the Foshay opened up their observation deck once again. And that's even outside!
How long will that last? I heard it's turning into one of those ultra upscale W hotels.
For many years Minneapolitans walked around in a daze thinking that a priori, oh yes, of course the IDS Building is the tallest building in Minneapolis. Really?
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