Otis Traction at the Rand
The 26-story Rand Tower skyscraper was one of the city’s tallest structures when it was completed in 1929. It was designed by Holabird & Root for World War I aviator, Rufus R. Rand. Constructed of cut Indiana Bedford limestone with a base of Quincy granite, the building cost over $130,000. Much of the building is covered in Art Deco ornamentation that follows an aviation theme. The Terrazzo floors of the lobby are inlaid with star and crescent shaped ornament and a large starburst which marks the intersection of the main lobby and the elevator bank lobby. There is also a sculpture named Wings in the lobby made by Oskar J.W. Hansen. Rufus was part of the family that owned the Minneapolis Gas Company later known as Minnegasco.
The Rand Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
This is one of 5 Otis traction elevators at the Rand Tower. The art-deco skyscraper was completed in 1930. This is one of the passenger elevators that had the cabs modernized sometime in the late 90′s. They used to have Otis FeatherTouch controls. Check out the vintage controller.
