IDS Center
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| Missing image IDS_reflecting_Wells_Fargo.jpg IDS Tower reflecting the nearby Wells Fargo Center | |
| Begun: | 1968 |
| Opened: | 1974 |
| Height: | 792 (241 meters) |
| Floors: | 57 (52 occupied) |
| ZIP Code: | 55402 |
| World Rank: | 116th (as of March 2005) |
| City Rank: | 1st (as of early 2005) |
| Location: | 80 8th St. South |
| Architect: | Philip Johnson Johnson/Burgee Architects |
| Developers: | Investment Diversified Services (a division of American Express) |
Opened in 1974, the IDS Center (or IDS Tower) is the tallest building in Minneapolis, Minnesota at 792 feet (241.4 m). It stood 775 feet 6 inches tall when built, though a 16-foot garage for window washing equipment was added at a later date. In 1992, the 776-foot tall First Bank Place, now known as 225 South Sixth, was completed nearby. However, it was advertised at the time as 774 feet tall, one foot shorter than the IDS "out of respect". A dispute eventually erupted in 2004–2005 and the rooftop garage is now included in the building's height, restoring it to first-place status in the city. Overall, the structure rises to 910 feet (277.4 m) when including communications spires on the roof, indisputably the highest points in the city.
The IDS became the tallest building in Minneapolis when it surpassed the height of the 30-story Foshay Tower in 1972 while under construction, ending that building's 43-year reign over the city skyline. Assembly of the building was followed with great interest, and the topping-off ceremony was a major civic event in the city. Today, many high-rise buildings in Minneapolis echo design features of the IDS Center.
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Design and environment
A lobby and shopping area at the bottom of the tower is known as the Crystal Court, and provides skyway connections between the tower and the rest of downtown Minneapolis. The building has an observation deck, but it has been closed to the public since the beginning of 1984. Thousands of people came for one last visit on December 31, 1983. A public restaurant named Windows on Minnesota operated for several more years on the 50th floor. Today, the Foshay Tower has the highest observation deck that remains open.
Because of the IDS Center's peculiar and unique stepback design (the stepbacks are called "zogs"), each floor has 32 corner offices. The area of Nicollet Mall just in front of the IDS Center is familiar to many television viewers: the character of Mary Richards on Mary Tyler Moore tossed her hat into the air on the site in the opening sequence used for several seasons. A statue of her was erected across the street from the building three decades later.
The Wells Fargo Center (formerly the Norwest Tower) is very close to the IDS Center; from certain angles, the reflection of the WFC can be seen in the glass facing of the IDS Center. The same is also true of the Foshay Tower.
The battle for tallest status
The owners of First Bank Place and the architects behind the design stated that it rose 774 feet tall upon its completion in 1992. However, the height had been increased due to an engineering need, according to Tom O'Mara, the building's construction manager. There were some ventilation ducts near the roof that required about 14 more inches of height. O'Mara added an extra 10 inches to that, bringing the building to a total of 776 feet 0 inches.
In the years following completion, the actual height eventually became known as it was published in almanacs and other listings of building height. The owners of 225 South Sixth were hesitant to claim that their building was taller than IDS, and usually deferred the honor to the more well-known structure. As area journalists reported on the sale of the IDS Center to the John Buck Company in 2004 and the death of designer Philip Johnson in 2005, they came face-to-face with the fact that the roof of the tower was one foot lower than its neighbor.
Emporis.com restored the IDS Center to first-place status in the city in February 2005 by including the height of the window-washing garage, although that has not completely ended the dispute. A spokesperson for the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, which sometimes handles height disputes, stated that it would be unlikely for the garage to be included in the official height because many would not consider it to be an integral part of the building's design.
It is unclear if the height of 225 South Sixth reaches to the top of the "halo" guarding what appears to be a helicopter landing pad, 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 taller than the former First Bank Tower.
It is also important to note that height measurements are sometimes incorrectly reported due to conversions between U.S. customary units and the metric system. The IDS was often reported as 774 feet in height because of this problem, occasionally appearing to be two feet shorter than its competitor.
Broadcasting
Communication spires on top of the building tower to 910 feet, the highest point in Minneapolis. A number of major FM radio stations formerly broadcasted from the site, but now use the IDS as a backup in case their primary location in Shoreview, Minnesota were to fail. Some television broadcasters using the tower include religious broadcasters like EWTN and TBN, and the Home Shopping Network.
See also
- KPXM Tower – the tallest guyed structure in Minnesota
External links
- IDS Center (http://www.ids-center.com/)
- Emporis.com: IDS Tower (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=122742)
References
- Katherine Glover (May 2004). Public Icon, Private Property. (http://www.rakemag.com/printable.asp?catID=46&itemID=16542&pg=all) The Rake.
- (February 19, 2005). IDS Tower Not Minneapolis' Tallest. (http://wcco.com/localnews/local_story_050150654.html) WCCO/Associated Press.
- Rick Bronson (February 17, 2005). IDS Tower restored to tallest status. (http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/nc/ne/?id=101285) Emporis.com.