A warm welcome awaits you atop the observation gallery of the IDS Tower in Minneapolis. At a height of 775 feet, it is the tallest building between Chicago and San Francisco. The observatory on the 51st floor is 717 feet. The additional 58 feet overhead are devoted to mechanical equipment for elevators, heating and air-conditioning. On a clear day, the observation level offers a 35-mile, uninterrupted panorama of the Twin Cities metro area. To the east, the view extends beyond New Richmond and Hudson, Wisconsin; to the south, beyond Northfield and New Prague; to the west, beyond Buffalo, Waconia and Waverly; and to the north, beyond St. Francis and Bethel. Included in the vista are parts of 12 Minnesota counties. Enjoy the view, and should any questions arise, please feel free to call upon the observatory staff. The observation gallery is open seven days a week (except major holidays) and is operated by IDS Properties, Inc.
The IDS Center boasts of a set of “believe it or not” facts and figures which give one an idea of the scale and scope of the project.Some examples:
EXCAVATION totaled nearly 320.000 cubic yards— equivalent to 1.020 average home basements.
CONCRETE for the Center amounted to about 90,000 cubic yards—enough for a 402-mile sidewalk.
47 inches wide and 4 inches thick.
STRUCTURAL STEEL totaled nearly 15,000 tons. enough for a Navy cruiser.
2.5 MlLLLON SQUARE FEET of space is equivalent to ten miles of four-lane freeway.
PANES OF REFLECTIVE GLASS There are 42.614 panes of reflective glasses in the IDS Center, 28,468 in the Tower alone. This is enough for two pairs of sunglasses for each resident of Minnesota and one pair for each North Dakota and South Dakota resident.
42 MILES OF PIPE for Plumbing. heating. air-conditioning run throughout the Tower and adjoining offices.
373,000 MAN-DAYS OF LABOR, more than fourteen lifetimes, went into building the Center. At the height of construction more than 1,000 people were employed.
42 MILES OF PIPE for plumbing. heating, air-conditioning run throughout the Tower and adjoining offices.
FORTY-THREE ELEVATORS and 500,000 feet of elevator cable serve the Center. Express elevators serving the Observation Gallery rise to the 51st floor in 36 seconds.
DINING FACILITIES enable about 3,000 persons to enjoy a meal at one time.
PARKING SPACE for 520 cars is located on three levels below ground.
A warm welcome awaits you atop the observation gallery of the IDS Tower in Minneapolis. At a height of 775 feet, it is the tallest building between Chicago and San Francisco. The observatory on the 51st floor is 717 feet. The additional 58 feet overhead are devoted to mechanical equipment for elevators, heating and air-conditioning. On a clear day, the observation level offers a 35-mile, uninterrupted panorama of the Twin Cities metro area. To the east, the view extends beyond New Richmond and Hudson, Wisconsin; to the south, beyond Northfield and New Prague; to the west, beyond Buffalo, Waconia and Waverly; and to the north, beyond St. Francis and Bethel. Included in the vista are parts of 12 Minnesota counties. Enjoy the view, and should any questions arise, please feel free to call upon the observatory staff. The observation gallery is open seven days a week (except major holidays) and is operated by IDS Properties, Inc.
