urbanMSP

The Minnesota limestone on the 4th Street side is fine. Handsome, even. The precast concrete that will cover the vast majority of those two towers is pretty dreadful. The city deserves better.

I think ( and hope) it may look better when its further along. But this issue of developers always using cheap materials for so many of our newer projects in this city will have a cumulative negative effect on our city's character. It's kind of sad.

I don't think we (Minneapolis) are unique to this trend though.

DSC_0669 by grant.simons, on Flickr
DSC_0668 by grant.simons, on Flickr
DSC_0670 by grant.simons, on Flickr
DSC_0671 by grant.simons, on Flickr
DSC_0672 by grant.simons, on Flickr
DSC_0673 by grant.simons, on Flickr

Saw this on the building that's a bit more behind. Kind of interesting

DSC_0674 by grant.simons, on Flickr

Nice pics! Looks Like they are covering up the Historic Medallions for safety from the other masonry or whatever. It's exciting to see the exterior going up quickly.

Is anybody else having problems viewing some pics? Is there some setting that I am not aware of that I have to have. If I click on the big white area where the pic should be it will bring me to the flicker site for viewing. That is the only way I can see them. Everything used to just pop up.

Flickr has been known to limit the number of image calls as a referral from another web site. Not something they generally advertise but I have seen it, yes (and do see it here).

Wells Fargo Downtown East towers 2-16-15 by bapster2006, on Flickr

So am I right in assuming that the main portion of the further along building (NW) is topped out? The tower portion will be like 5 stories higher than that?

So am I right in assuming that the main portion of the further along building (NW) is topped out? The tower portion will be like 5 stories higher than that?

http://webcampub.multivista.com/index.c ... 298F7B8EF9

The concrete pump is back up, so I assume they'll be going up more.

I'm not really sure how to reconcile what the renderings seemed to show with what's being built. The elevator core isn't in the tower, so I don't know if it can have any significant usable space that is higher than the main building.

That's why I'm confused.

I think that there may be some of the HVAC behind "crown" elements - I only think that there is 3 to 5 floors to build on that right scorner side seen in the video cam link.

Best rendering I found:

Ryan / Wells Fargo / Vikings/ Star Trbune / Downtown East Project by Mill City Times, on Flickr

Huh. Definitely looks like two levels of elevatorless inhabitable space in the towers. Guess we'll find out.

Could be that they will have shuttle elevators just to access the tower floors. Not the most convenient arrangement, but other office buildings downtown have similar arrangements.

It appears that those tower portions are just to make the building look more visually appealing. Doesn't look like there will be any actual office space. It also doesn't look like it will be big enough to hold much of office space anyways, so to put elevators going up to that area would be pretty pointless.

That's where the gym will be, you gotta go up the stairs to get there.

why in the world are they building a huge blank wall facing 3rd. Is that portion facing the park to be stick built?

why in the world are they building a huge blank wall facing 3rd. Is that portion facing the park to be stick built?

Yes, the apartments will be built there.

This rendering from Kare 11 seems to show the elevator superstructure in the middle:

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/101cbbd ... dering.jpg

Is it possible that the two additional tower levels are cafeterias or entertainment meeting spaces for employees? They both have spectacular views of the parks and the stadium... just a thought - since they are private buildings they haven't put out a lot of detail about the interiors.