IDS Center

The IDS Center (80 S. 8th St.) in Minneapolis is the tallest building in Minnesota at 792 feet (241.4 m). It originally stood 775 feet 6 inches (236.4 m), though a 16-foot (4.9 m) garage for window washing equipment was added in 1978 or 1979. 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 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 at 8th & Nicollet; an 8-story annex building along Marquette Avenue; the 19-story Marquette Hotel at 7th & Marquette; and a two-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.

Read more about IDS Center:  Design and Environment, The Battle For Tallest Status, Mechanical Floors, Ownership, Broadcasting, In Popular Culture, Deadly Falls

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