IDS Center

[trkaiser]

Opened in 1974, the IDS Center is the tallest building in Minnesota at a height of 792 feet.

[trkaiser]

Does anybody know why the lights atop the IDS Center have been dark for the last few months?

[eluko]

I'm not sure, but back when they were on they would always shut off before every other tower which made me think the caretaker was old and cranky. Maybe he retired and never told the new guy where the switch was.

[seanrichardryan]

They may have been out for spring bird migration?

[PhilmerPhil]

Kinda silly, but I emailed the contact person on the IDS' website to ask what the deal is because it's been buggin me for a while. Yes, they were off for the birds, but in the meantime, they also are in the process of upgrading to more efficient LED lights. They should be back on in mid July. It'd be pretty neat if they allowed for some sort of complexity like Target did when they upgraded. No pictures or art, but sparkling like the Eiffel Tower might mix it up on holidays or something.

[PhilmerPhil]

Also, I heard Yogurt Lab will be opening in the Crystal Court. I hope they will be open after office hours because it would definitely save my me and my fiancé the trip all the way to the Excelsior Blvd. location. (Yogurt Lab is def our favorite of the new wave of these shops...)

[Lancestar2]

Sean, your comment made me laugh as I assumed you were joking! However your right, birds use the stars to navigate there migration during night time. Wow I don't know about birds that much but I would never had thought they had the eye's to do that... always something to learn!


WCCO Did a short video report on the event guess many cities also have a "lights out" event

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/03/0 ... ory-birds/

[go4guy]

Maybe the city can pass a law only allowing birds to migrate thru the city during the day. Otherwise, they can take the loop and go around the city.

[spectre000]

Thanks for starting a thread on the IDS.

I would love to see some construction photos if anyone has them. I've only found one or two on the MN Historical Society photo database. And those were of its foundations and digging. Anyone?

[go4guy]

Tried copying a photo, didn't work. Go to Google Images, and type in IDS Center Construction. Only 1 pic on there that I found, it is when construction was about half way done.

[spectre000]

Tried copying a photo, didn't work. Go to Google Images, and type in IDS Center Construction. Only 1 pic on there that I found, it is when construction was about half way done.

Thanks! Here it is. Courtesy of the Hennepin Cty Library.



Aug '71.

[retiredbanker]

I have a few b&w photo's of the IDS Center under-construction. Let me find them spectre000. The skyline looked so different back then, compared to the present day. Few buildings, even by today's standards have the efficiencies of the IDS. We're very fortunate to have such a high-quality and standard of building in Minneapolis.

[trkaiser]

From somebody who's only seen a few significant buildings thrown up since moving here in 2000, it seems so radical somebody built the IDS Center that tall when the rest of the city was a sea of low- to mid-rise buildings. While it may not be the greatest, it's my favorite skyscraper in any city.

[Unity77]

Here are some cool MPLS skyline shots from back in the day.
1973


1975


1975


1975


1982

[retiredbanker]

I'm still looking for my photo's of the IDS Center under-construction. I did scan a photo, courtesy of the Minneapolis Tribune from Sept. 1971.

[John]

I have a few b&w photo's of the IDS Center under-construction. Let me find them spectre000. The skyline looked so different back then, compared to the present day. Few buildings, even by today's standards have the efficiencies of the IDS. We're very fortunate to have such a high-quality and standard of building in Minneapolis.

The IDS Center is considered one of architect Philip Johnson's greatest works. The Crystal Court is an architectural masterpiece. And as you stated Retiredbanker: it is a very high quality building on all levels. We are indeed fortunate to have this building in Minneapolis. There used to be a great observation deck that closed in the early 1980's. I used to go there at least a couple times a week to look out over Minneapolis. It was so much fun!

[spectre000]

Thanks for posting! The IDS of the 70's reminds me of a current tower that just finished in OKC (Devon Tower, 844'). They now have a similar 70's Minneapolis skyline. Devon is almost twice as tall as anything else in OKC. The IDS really did put Minneapolis on the map.

Now if only Target or someone else could build us another tall tower.

[John]

Thanks for posting! The IDS of the 70's reminds me of a current tower that just finished in OKC (Devon Tower, 844'). They now have a similar 70's Minneapolis skyline. Devon is almost twice as tall as anything else in OKC. The IDS really did put Minneapolis on the map.

Now if only Target or someone else could build us another tall tower.

Yes Yes Yes! We need a new tall tower about 900 -1000 feet to cap the skyline. IDS was great in its early days as it was so much the symbol of Minneapolis. Its prominence has been diluted somewhat with all the other buildings of similar height built around it since then. Yet because of its great quality and beauty, it remains the venerable grand dame of them all!

[retiredbanker]

Here's 2 more photo's of the IDS Center under-construction. Photo courtesy of the Minneapolis Tribune, September 1971.

[4-d]

That would have been awesome to see go up. It was just such a tower with nothing to even compare it with. That last picture is so ominous looking. I think that is pretty cool as well.

(Sorry about the comments on older threads today, I need to catch up with some stuff I missed a few weeks ago.)