Wells Fargo Center
Minneapolis, USA

HEIGHT: 235m/771 feet
FLOORS: 57 floors
COMPLETION: 1988
ARCHITECT: Kendall Heaton Associates and Cesar Pelli & Associates

Formerly known as Norwest Center

Rising from the ashes of the 1982 fire that destroyed the old Northwestern National Bank Building, the Norwest Center reaches 57 stories above Minneapolis, and is perhaps the city's best skyscraper. Even though this is a product of the 1980's, it keeps the traditional art deco feel of the first batch of American skyscrapers churned out 50 years earlier like Rockefeller Center in New York (see also Chrysler Building, New York and Carew Tower, Cincinnati). Entering the building leaves you in an immense pedestrian zone ("Gaviidae Common") with a a 100-foot-tall dome looming above you -- a grand act paying homage to the architecture of ancient times, yet concealed from the outside by a thoroughly modern building. While the Norwest Center was originally intended to be the tallest building in Minneapolis, a redesign brought its total high to several inches under the IDS Center. Nevertheless, the building is a source of great pride for people living in the city. At night floodlights illuminate the tower at each of the building's setbacks.

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rotpics01/wellsfargo01.jpeg

http://www.cesar-pelli.com/html/assetts/folio/wellsfargo1.jpg

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/620/624006_4ab.jpg

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/620/624dcp_0628_30.jpg

http://images.fotki.com/v1/photos/1/10467/18539/sd143-vi.jpg

http://www.stevendahlman.com/photo/portfolio/photo/wellsfargo1.jpg

http://www.cesar-pelli.com/html/assetts/folio/wellsfargo2.jpg

7/10

Its not ugly. But from afar, a bit drab. Very corporate looking.
Reminds me of GE Building in New York.

I like the details in the close up shot. What are those spikes on the roof?

This building is very unique that it is slim with setbacks, and that it glows gold at night. This building was actually put into a contest for a project versus Key Tower in Cleveland. But instead, this was built in Minneapolis to replace the high-rise that burned to the ground on Independence Day in 1982.

8/10

8.5. Reminds me of a stretched out Key Tower without the crown for some reason.

a 7 because US Bankplace in Minneapolis is much better!

Man, tough crowd. One of my favorite PoMo highrises in America, and definitely one of my favorites of Pelli's work...

8.5/10

Not my favourite style but a decent building overall.

7.5/10

Nice green city btw :)

The second best in Minnesota. 10/10!

9.5 / 10 - I'm a big fan of Rockafeller, and this is no exception :)

tays

nice, elegant . . .it gives a good balance to Minneapolis! 7/10

i like the little spikes at the top

8/10. Like that style.

You gotta see this one in person, at night, to truly appreciate it. Even nighttime pictures don't do it justice..... :)

yes I agree, reminds me of the Rockerfeller Center in NYC..i like it, modern but has that older skyscraper style....8.5/10

I don't much care for the coloring of it, but overall I think the building has a nice look to it, so I gave it a 7.5.

Very nice, stands out well

7.5/10 :)

Reminds me of a similar looking building in Charlotte , but this one is certainly a damn good looking tower , nearly Art Deco like , an 9

Not bad, its pretty nice actually. 7.5/10

8.5. Nice shape, and it looks quite good up close.

Not bad
8/10

Don't like the color 7

I like it better close up than afar. 8/10

what a beauty! 9/10

8.5/10 - the silver mullions really help this one soar skyward, and there's a good contrast between mullions, windows, and stone. The height is also helped by the setbacks, and the crown actually flows from the rest of the building - the gentle curve is a nice contrast, but not at all jarring...

One problem - it looks like the mullions aren't on all the sides?

I'd like to see it lit up at night...

I am not too wild about this one.
Shape is ok but the colours are bad.
7.5/10

This is a nice tower IMO. I like the height and the design reminds me of Rockefeller Center in NYC

This is a nice tower IMO. I like the height and the design reminds me of Rockefeller Center in NYC

It has a nice shape, but from far away it looks kinda bland and fake. From up close its nice tho and the top is nice.

9 Fantastic building... and it reminds me of GE Building... looks enormous on the wide side... and it soars to the sky on the thin side... great facade too... very interesting shape

7.5/10

7.5 i like this:)

One of my favourite buildings anywhere. Definitely one of the best PoMo buildings anywhere! Looks like it belongs in Gotham City (Batman). 9/10.

The shape is a turnoff.. Its massive and overpowering though.. But the boring looking facade is a disappiontment... :bash:

7/10

This is definitely good stuff......jus a little too wide at the sides. 8/10.

:) Rate, rate.... :D

WELLS FARGO CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS

Height - 235m/772ft
Floors - 57 floors
Completed in 1988..


http://www.twincityscape.com/photos/minneapolis/mpls/WellsFargo.jpg

I know this has been done.

8/10

9.5/10
A brilliant modern building!
:)

6.5/10...Looks OK, the setbacks, color and window design is good, though the spikes/points overdetails the building and attracts too much attention.

7/10 Nothing wrong with this tower, but i like it a lot more in the dark when the lights are turned on.

It's quite nice, looks a bit like GE Building, NYC. 7/10

not great a post modern, but a good one 7/10

10/10

That's just so beautiful!

I like this place. It's sort of ... well, very skyscraper, and nicely so. I like it! :)

8.5

7/10

Pretty good...nothing to be ashamed of, might even be a reason for pride.

Looks like a job well done by the architect.

7.5/10

8.5/10


Quite imponent

9/10

I am so happy they picked this tower over Key Tower in Cleveland. Wells Fargo is so much cooler looking:guns1: I can see this building when I am in class on Monday nights and every night I watch it set the sky on fire with those huge orange flood lights that illuminate the set backs at the top. On a real cloudy night the orange light looks like a fire ball in the sky. Must see to appreciate. Also the lobby of the bank makes you feel like a million bucks. Super classy entrance from the street and skyway. If only it was as tall as the Key Tower I would have given it a 10.

it's so awesome at night

7.5/10

the shape is totally awesome (cesar peli never ceases to amaze me with his creations), but the color's too light and the building looks sorta pale as the result. they should make the facade darker.

8.5

I guess living in Minnesota makes you immune to kasota stone's "lightness" so many buildings are built with it... it just seems normal
10/10 probably my favorite downtown.

More pics

http://www.pbase.com/image/31358003.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/31154987.jpg


At night
http://www.pbase.com/image/25051874.jpg

Nice, 8/10:)

I love it. It is a very elegant building. I do agree, it does look too wide from some angles. But all in all it is a great tower IMO.

New picture of the Wells Fargo Tower. Taken today.

http://img59.exs.cx/img59/5562/2602.jpg

8/10

7.5
The setbacks at the top are good. I don't like the colour though.

Nice

Bleh...ugly color and looks old to be that new....5

7/10

Damn, I'm just full of pics:

http://img22.exs.cx/img22/5812/wells1.jpg

Well I love it's desighn and height but not it's colour. I would love it so much more and the best if it were grey instead. 8/10

8.5/10

7/10

This WFC is also nice, 9.0

4/10

This is about as perfect as a skyscraper can get. You GOTTA see this tower! Elegance, prestige, power.......This building says it all. Minneapolis' premiere skyscraper.
9.5/10

this is one of the most graceful skyscrapers in the world...well its Pelli's what more can I ask ?

10/10

9/10

10/10!!!!

I'm sorry, but the IDS center took 2nd place the day this jewel went up.

8/10

10+ The best in Minneapolis. A masterpiece.

It definitely has the markings of a Pelli design--the exterior, crownings, and the way his buildings rise into the air. I think it's gorgeous and would be glad to have it in my city. Is there any way we can work that out? :colgate:

10/10.

9.5

straight out of gotham city

Looks very similar to the BOA corporate center in Charlotte. I like it 8/10

Very nice! 8/10.

This is one great building. The crown is absolutely dazzling and the facade is to die for. I give it a Perfect 10/10. :D

It does look like Rockfeller center with a better, more modern cladding, and a less overwhelming appearance. Which is good. Natural light gives it different colors and the night lighting seems pretty good as well. I would have prefered it had been completely symetrical. The wide side is a bit bland. Otherwise, pretty good stuff.
7.

9.5/10

Nice setbacks. 8.

9.5/10

Almost a perfect tower.The color is very beautiful and the setbacks with distinct facades is amazing.

Like it. 8.5/10.

I like this tower. 8.5/10

this architecture of this building is great! modern and styish. The 2nd best of of the big 3.

7/10

7.5/10, reminds me of Rockefeller Center.

9/10

8/10

quite anonymous, 7/10

8/10

Amazing 9/10

Very nice tower. Looks like a modern version of old art-deco skyscrapers. 9/10

9/10

9/10

some more pics:

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7205/13vh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/6348/20yr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

amazing 10/10

7/10

8/10

7/10

amazing 7/10

pretty cool at night

8/10

looks very nice.... especially at night
8/10

8/10 ;)

8/10

A nice throwback to older towers. This is, i feel, what Verizon tower in Philly tried to do but failed. A very nice tower to throw into the awesome eclectic mix of towers in Minneapolis.

9/10

8/10 - Minneapolis has better.

Would be worth more than 8.5/10 if it was more original. Still nice tower.

7/10 :)

5,5/10

7/10

7/10

8.5/10

7/10

great tower i love it: 9/10

9.5

7.5/10

a little drab..

8/10

8/10

7.5/10

10/10

Damn this tower looks really good, i'm glad i stumbled upon this one.

One of the pelli's best. 9/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

5/10

7/10

7/10.

7.5/10

8/10

my favorite in MPLS!

wish it were a tad taller

6/10

i hear a lot of people saying that they dislike the color of the tower. which is of course fine your taste....but probably what many of you don't realize is that at the time of it's construction it's "equal" the ids center just across the street is clad completely in blue glass. pelli decided to contrast the ids using the beige stone. mission accomplished.......it's design was inspired by the rca tower in newyork.....mission accomplished.....it should look both old and new. and i thank god that it wasn't clad in grey..........it is absolutely the worst color to slap on the outside of a building in minnesota.........this building is what brought balance to our skyline in mpls........i give it a 9..

my favorite minneapolis skyscraper, 10/10

6/10

Not my style, a 6 out of 10.

Not too ugly. 6/10

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/12/18648018_67e5796bda.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/143077037_8826d109a7_b.jpg

8/10

7/10
Looks good, the brown really doesn't fit in on the facade though.

7.5/10

7/10

8/10 - very nice. the colors make it look as if it belongs in miami or something. it would blend right in.

6/10

I love it. 9/10

The thing about the color is it is Kasota stone which is a common material for public or major buildings in Minnesota. It is part of the local architectual vernacular so when you see Wells Fargo in context of what else is downtown it really works.

I gave it 10/10, granted I am a homer but it is a really nice building, it has an elegance to it that a lot of modern skyscrapers lack.

looks nice 7/10

5/10...

10/10

7/10

8/10

4/10

not bad 8

nice, elegant . . .it gives a good balance,ok

5 ..

5/10

8/10

great tower 8.5/10

5/10

7/10

8/10

8/10

6/10 :)

7.5/10

6/10

6/10

7/10

8/

9.5/10

Fantastic looking building. I'd love to see this in SimCity (but that's the kid side of me).

8.5/10

8/10

Not bad, 8/10

Nice, very nice...

8.0/10

7/10

8. Good building. Regards.

7/10

7/10

7/10

8/10

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5218/wellsfargocenterfromfos.jpg
average 6/10

Art deco-ish and massed like the Carew Tower in Cincinnati. Pleasing enough. 8

8/10

7.5

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1414/612775854_3e8e16af3d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjincks/612775854/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/91282562_8584fd6af8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/grimphotography/91282562/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/176/477383369_c4faccc187_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23944110@N00/477383369/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/477363990_cabf951db1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23944110@N00/477363990/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/477383173_623d396dd5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23944110@N00/477383173/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/55/144025706_8a9bd16155_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaron_1995/144025706/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4623238708_08a6b4a2dc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23944110@N00/4623238708/)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1375/538846563_e2913f73db_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23944110@N00/538846563/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/4623238540_5b9019a535_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23944110@N00/4623238540/in/photostream/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/485402995_096d1d747b_z.jpg?zz=1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixelavant/485402995/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2998287658_f422a388cf_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gbenz/2998287658/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/2997750091_62df0eef5a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gbenz/2997750091/in/photostream/)

I can't help it, but I really like this style (9.5/10)

8/10

Straight 10/10

7.5/10 so so

9/10

7.5/10

7/10

7/10

8/10

8/10 not bad

8/10

8/10

8/10

6/10

7/10

:bow: No need for we admirers to defend it. It's, classic, majesty speaks for itself! :bow:

5/10 Its just a plain box

8/10

7,5/10

10/10, love it :cheers:

6.5

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Wells_Fargo_Center_from_Foshay.jpg

This is what I want to see! New Art Deco done RIGHT! :drool:
10/10

7/10

9/10

8.5/10

9/10