#188 l Wells Fargo Center l MINNEAPOLIS l 235m l 57fl

Patrick · September 26th, 2002, 07:00 AM

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.

RafflesCity · September 26th, 2002, 10:49 AM

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?

AG · September 26th, 2002, 11:08 AM

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

DrumCorpsAlum · September 26th, 2002, 04:46 PM

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

Skyscrapercitizen · September 26th, 2002, 07:28 PM

a 7 because US Bankplace in Minneapolis is much better!

Jasonhouse · September 26th, 2002, 08:30 PM

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

8.5/10

September 26th, 2002, 10:22 PM

Not my favourite style but a decent building overall.

7.5/10

Nice green city btw

SteelCity32 · September 29th, 2002, 03:35 AM

The second best in Minnesota. 10/10!

tayser · September 29th, 2002, 04:07 AM

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

tays

Caledon1981 · September 29th, 2002, 05:35 AM

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

SUNNI · September 29th, 2002, 07:10 AM

i like the little spikes at the top

October 2nd, 2002, 06:33 AM

8/10. Like that style.

October 3rd, 2002, 06:30 AM

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

The anti-cheesehead · August 6th, 2004, 04:26 AM

New picture of the Wells Fargo Tower. Taken today.

Bobdreamz · October 3rd, 2002, 06:45 AM

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

October 4th, 2002, 11:33 PM

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.

Bob di Gills · October 5th, 2002, 12:03 AM

Very nice, stands out well

7.5/10

De Snor · November 25th, 2002, 02:28 PM

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

ryanr · December 3rd, 2002, 12:10 PM

Not bad, its pretty nice actually. 7.5/10

DamienK · December 3rd, 2002, 12:23 PM

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

View Poll Results: how would you rate the WFC in Minneapolis?
10	43	17.34%
9.5	27	10.89%
9	30	12.10%
8.5	21	8.47%
8	40	16.13%
7.5	22	8.87%
7	34	13.71%
6.5	5	2.02%
6	12	4.84%
5.5	2	0.81%
5	4	1.61%
4.5	0	0%
4	1	0.40%
3.5	1	0.40%
3 or less	6	2.42%
Voters: 248. You may not vote on this poll

September 26th, 2002, 04:46 PM	#4
DrumCorpsAlum Phoenix, AZ/Camden, SC Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ/Camden, SC Posts: 320 Likes (Received): 0	8.5. Reminds me of a stretched out Key Tower without the crown for some reason. __________________ http://www.galleychronicles.com http://www.facebook.com/DrumCorpsAlum

September 26th, 2002, 07:28 PM	#5
Skyscrapercitizen Like it Vertical Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Rotterdam, NYC Posts: 25,527	a 7 because US Bankplace in Minneapolis is much better! __________________ Volg RTM XL op Facebook en Twitter en blijf op de hoogte van het laatste XL nieuws!

September 29th, 2002, 03:35 AM	#8
SteelCity32 Don't be that guy! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 1,098 Likes (Received): 0	The second best in Minnesota. 10/10! __________________ I often dream of huge numb buildings, jet black sinister architecture. Being installed when nobody sees. Their appearence so sudden that few would take notice.

September 29th, 2002, 04:07 AM	#9
tayser Champagne Socialist Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 10,533 Likes (Received): 35	9.5 / 10 - I'm a big fan of Rockafeller, and this is no exception tays __________________ "America gave the world George Bush, France gave the world the ménage à trois... Game Over."

September 26th, 2002, 07:00 AM	#1
Patrick DWF Alaaf! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kurtrier / Herzogtum Nassau Posts: 2,728 Likes (Received): 380	#188 l Wells Fargo Center l MINNEAPOLIS l 235m l 57fl 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. __________________ Viquet oisch, Motz d'Öropp! Last edited by ZZ-II; July 1st, 2008 at 10:43 PM.

September 26th, 2002, 10:49 AM	#2
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 6	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?

September 26th, 2002, 11:08 AM	#3
AG Engineer in training Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Gladstone (ex. Adelaide) Posts: 2,023 Likes (Received): 0	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

September 26th, 2002, 08:30 PM	#6
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,318 Likes (Received): 8	Man, tough crowd. One of my favorite PoMo highrises in America, and definitely one of my favorites of Pelli's work... 8.5/10

September 26th, 2002, 10:22 PM	#7
Sunflower Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	Not my favourite style but a decent building overall. 7.5/10 Nice green city btw

September 29th, 2002, 05:35 AM	#10
Caledon1981 --------- Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: OKC Posts: 217 Likes (Received): 0	nice, elegant . . .it gives a good balance to Minneapolis! 7/10 __________________ --------

September 29th, 2002, 07:10 AM	#11
SUNNI architect by day Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Brisbane Posts: 3,058 Likes (Received): 0	i like the little spikes at the top

October 2nd, 2002, 06:33 AM	#12
Procurator Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	8/10. Like that style.

October 3rd, 2002, 06:30 AM	#13
BrianInIA Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	You gotta see this one in person, at night, to truly appreciate it. Even nighttime pictures don't do it justice.....

August 6th, 2004, 04:26 AM	#14
The anti-cheesehead Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: City of Minneapolis Posts: 3,005 Likes (Received): 0	New picture of the Wells Fargo Tower. Taken today.

October 3rd, 2002, 06:45 AM	#15
Bobdreamz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Miami/Orlando, Florida Posts: 1,853 Likes (Received): 5	yes I agree, reminds me of the Rockerfeller Center in NYC..i like it, modern but has that older skyscraper style....8.5/10 __________________ Metro Miami...1000+ highrises completed & under construction.

October 4th, 2002, 11:33 PM	#16
Steven Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	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.

October 5th, 2002, 12:03 AM	#17
Bob di Gills Hope... Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Rochester Posts: 66 Likes (Received): 0	Very nice, stands out well 7.5/10 __________________ The difference between involvement and commitment is like an egg and bacon breakfast......the chicken was involved the pig was committed.

November 25th, 2002, 02:28 PM	#18
De Snor Forever Travelling Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 6,353 Likes (Received): 19	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

December 3rd, 2002, 12:10 PM	#19
ryanr Registered non-User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver Posts: 6,681 Likes (Received): 7	Not bad, its pretty nice actually. 7.5/10

December 3rd, 2002, 12:23 PM	#20
DamienK Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Perth Posts: 3,258 Likes (Received): 16	8.5. Nice shape, and it looks quite good up close. __________________ 21st Century Coeds - Some things never change Read the webcomic

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