Metropolitan Building (Minneapolis)
| Metropolitan Building | |
|---|---|
The Metropolitan Building in November 1960
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| Alternative names | Northwestern Guaranty Loan Building |
| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Location | 308 2nd Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 44°58′46.3″N 93°16′0″W / 44.979528°N 93.26667°WCoordinates: 44°58′46.3″N 93°16′0″W / 44.979528°N 93.26667°W |
| Completed | 1890 |
| Destroyed | 1961 |
| Cost | $1,000,000 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 258 ft (79 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 12 |
The Metropolitan Building, originally known as the Northwestern Guaranty Loan Building, is considered to be one of the most architecturally significant structures in the history of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It stood from 1890 until it was torn down starting in 1961 as part of major urban renewal efforts in the city that saw about 40% of the downtown district razed and replaced with new structures. At the time, the pending destruction of the Richardsonian Romanesque building provided a catalyst for historic preservation movements in the city and across the state.
The building is considered the city's first skyscraper, with 12 stories and standing 218 feet (66 m) tall. Small observation towers poked up above the corners, and the rooftop had a popular garden. It was built of green New Hampshire granite and red Lake Superior sandstone, with the interiors dressed in antique oak. A large skylight allowed the interior to be safely lit in a time when electric lighting was rare (though the building was eventually wired), and the floors of walkways circling the center court were translucent to allow more light to filter through. Architect E. Townsend Mix designed the building, and it is considered to be his most notable achievement. Many of the city's most prestigious companies had offices in the Metropolitan.
When it went up, the building was owned by the Northwestern Guaranty Loan Company. Louis F. Menage, founder, had gained a fortune while speculating on real estate in the Minneapolis area in the 1880s. He spent $1 million on the project. Many hailed the building when it was first completed, although some such as Cass Gilbert did not like the style.
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