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IDS Center

IDS Center
IDS reflecting Wells Fargo.jpg
IDS Tower reflecting the nearby Wells Fargo Center
Alternative names IDS Centre
General information
Status Complete
Location 80 8th Street S.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coordinates 44°58′34″N 93°16′21″W / 44.9760°N 93.2724°W / 44.9760; -93.2724Coordinates: 44°58′34″N 93°16′21″W / 44.9760°N 93.2724°W / 44.9760; -93.2724
Construction started 1969; 48 years ago (1969)
Completed 1972; 45 years ago (1972)
Height
Antenna spire 910 ft (280 m)
Roof 792 ft (241 m)
Technical details
Floor count 57 (52 occupied)
Design and construction
Architect Philip Johnson
Johnson/Burgee Architects
Developer Investors Diversified Services
(now known as Ameriprise Financial, Inc.)
Structural engineer Severud Associates

The IDS Center is a skyscraper located at 80 South 8th Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Completed in 1972, it is the tallest building in the state at a height of 792 feet (241 m). It originally stood 775 feet 6 inches (236.37 m), though a 16-foot (4.9 m) garage for window washing equipment was added between 1978 and 1979. The structure rises to 910 feet (10,900 in) when including communications spires on the roof, indisputably the highest points in the city. The IDS was constructed as the headquarters of Investors Diversified Services, Inc.—now Ameriprise Financial. It also housed the headquarters of Dayton Hudson Corporation (now Target Corporation) from 1972 until 2001.

The complex consists of five parts: the 57-story IDS Tower itself at 8th & Nicollet Streets, an 8-story annex building along Marquette Avenue, the 19-story Marquette Hotel at 7th Street & Marquette Avenue, and a 2-story retail building that was originally dominated by Woolworth's. These four buildings are joined by the 7-story Crystal Court.

The 57-story IDS became the tallest skyscraper in Minneapolis when it surpassed the height of the 32-story Foshay Tower in 1972, ending that building's 43-year reign over the city skyline. Construction of the building was followed with great interest, and the topping-off ceremony was a major civic event in the city. In addition to being taller, IDS occupies a much larger footprint than the obelisk-like Foshay.

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 four adjacent blocks. The Concourse level is occupied by Globe College and University; originally this floor was an extension of the Crystal Court retail space and included a single-screen movie theater and shops. The building had a 51st floor observation deck until 1983. Thousands of people came for one last visit on December 31, 1983. This floor is now office space. The 50th Floor contained an east-facing "Orion Room" restaurant, a north-facing bar and cocktail lounge, a private south-facing dining club ("Tower Club"), all which were converted to office space. The west-facing "University of Minnesota Alumni Club" closed to the public in 1994. Today, the entire 50th floor consists of four large ballrooms with a single central kitchen. The rooms are collectively known as "Windows on Minnesota," and they serve as banquet space for the Marquette Hotel.


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