First National Bank Building (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

Last updated
First National Bank Building
2019-0819-StP-First National Bank Building.JPG
First National Bank Building
First National Bank Building (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
General information
StatusCompleted
Location332 Minnesota Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Coordinates 44°56′48″N93°05′28″W / 44.946711°N 93.091064°W / 44.946711; -93.091064
Completed1931
Height
Roof417 ft (127 m)
Technical details
Floor count32
Floor area528,185 sq ft (49,070.0 m2) [1]
Design and construction
Architect(s) Graham, Anderson, Probst & White [2]

The First National Bank Building is a 417-foot-tall high-rise building in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. [3] [4] The building has the tallest connecting skyway in the Twin Cities.

Contents

Construction

The first building on the property, the Merchants Bank Building, was built in 1915 and opened in 1916. [5] Rising 228 feet tall and with 16 stories, the building was the tallest in Saint Paul until it was overtaken by the Wells Fargo Place. [6] [7] The First National Bank Building was designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White in 1931 after Merchants National Bank was absorbed by First National Bank. [8] The 32 story structure struggled to acquire materials in 1930 due to the construction of the Empire State Building at the same time. [9] In 1932 the cost of the building was $3,340,185.44. [10]

Building

Skyway

Unlit First National Bank sign First National Bank Building, Saint Paul, MN.jpg
Unlit First National Bank sign

It is believed that the world's first modern skyway was built to connect the two towers. [9] The skyway connects the building's 17th floor with the adjacent 16-story Merchants Bank Building which is part of the same property. It is the tallest skyway in the Twin Cities. [5] The skyway with six tinted windows was built in 1931 in conjunction of the finishing of the building. The Merchants Bank Building was the tallest in Saint Paul from 1915 to 1931 when the First National Bank Building overtook it. [11]

Sign

The building is probably most known for the large neon red "1st" sign atop the building. The sign has three sides and rises four stories to a height of fifty feet. [8] [12] In 1973 the sign was turned off in response to the energy crisis. The sign was relighted ten years later after a major renovation. The original "vermillion vitreous porcelain edged [sign] with a double row of red neon tubes" was replaced with solely red tubes. Around four thousand feet of neon tubing was used in the renovation. [10] The sign can be seen from almost 75 miles away from the air at night and 20 miles away on a clear day. [13]

Entrance to the First National Bank Building First National Bank Building Entrance in Saint Paul MN.jpg
Entrance to the First National Bank Building

After renovation in 2016 due to wind damage, the sign was relit, with a color changing LED sign. For the Winter Carnival in 2017, the sign changed color from neon red to icy blue. [14] In 2017, the sign was changed to purple, during the first anniversary of musician Prince's death.

Building

An addition to the north was constructed in 1971, designed by Haarstick, Lundgren & Assoc. [2]

The building is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places but not currently listed. The building's overall design is Art Deco. [15] The building was the tallest in Saint Paul from its construction in 1931 till 1986 when Galtier Plaza (now Cray Plaza) overtook the building, a total of 55 years. The building is currently the third tallest in Saint Paul behind Jackson Tower of Cray Plaza and Wells Fargo Place (formerly the Minnesota World Trade Center). [16]

The building was sold in January 2007 to First National Building Holdings for an undisclosed amount. The building was then sold in 2012 to an unknown organization. Three years later the building was sold to Madison Equities of St. Paul. [9] [17] [18] [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IDS Center</span> Skyscraper in Minneapolis

The IDS Center is an office skyscraper located at 80 South 8th Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Completed in 1973, it is the tallest building in Minneapolis, and the tallest building in the state at a height of 792 feet (241 m). It originally stood 775 feet 6 inches (236.37 m), though a 16-foot (4.9 m) garage for window washing equipment was added between 1978 and 1979. The structure rises to 910 feet (10,900 in) when including communications spires on the roof, indisputably the highest points in the city. The IDS was constructed as the headquarters of Investors Diversified Services, Inc.—now Ameriprise Financial. It also housed the headquarters of Dayton Hudson Corporation from 1972 until 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capella Tower</span> Skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US

Capella Tower is an office skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The building opened in 1992 as First Bank Place, replacing One Financial Plaza as the headquarters for First Bank System. In 1997, First Bank System acquired US Bancorp and changed the name of the building to US Bancorp Place. The headquarters of US Bancorp moved into the US Bancorp Center in 2000, whereupon the tower changed to 225 South 6th Street. In March 2009, the building took its present name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wells Fargo Center (Minneapolis)</span> Office in Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Wells Fargo Center, formerly known as Norwest Center, is the third-tallest building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after the IDS Center and the Capella Tower. Completed in 1988, it is 774 feet (236 m) tall. For many years, this was believed to be one foot shorter than Capella, but that structure actually had a different height. Norwest Center was designed with a modernized art deco style by César Pelli, reflecting nearby structures such as the nearby CenturyLink Building and the Foshay Tower, which is several blocks away. It is also considered by many to be a homage to 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cray Plaza</span> Building in the United States

Cray Plaza, located in the Lowertown neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, provides space for working, living, eating, and recreating on one square city block opened in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis</span> Member Bank of Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States, covers the 9th District of the Federal Reserve, which is made up of Minnesota, Montana, North and South Dakota, northwestern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Although its geographical territory is the third largest of the 12 Federal Reserve banks, it serves the smallest population base of the system. It has one branch, which is in Helena, Montana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaviidae Common</span> Shopping mall in Minnesota, United States

Gaviidae Common is a mixed-use shopping mall and office complex on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The first phase of the mall, Gaviidae Common I, opened in 1989 and is adjoined to Gaviidae Common II by a series of skyways. Phase II opened in 1991. A joint venture designed by Argentine American architect César Pelli and Chicago-based Lohan Associates, the mall occupies 443,000-square-foot (41,000 m2) of retail and office space spread across five floors. Following the closure of the mall's food court and several tenants in 2013, the top three floors of Gaviidae Common II were converted into office and recreational space for the adjoining RBC Plaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">33 South Sixth</span> Skyscraper

33 South Sixth, formerly known as International Multifoods Tower, is a skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and stands 52 stories tall at 668 ft (204 m). Its name comes from its address: 33 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis. It was completed in 1983 as headquarters for International Multifoods Corporation, which occupied the structure until 1997 when it moved to suburban Wayzata. Although the corporate offices relocated, the name remained until 2003 under the terms of its lease. Adjacent to the tower is the Minneapolis City Center shopping mall, which occupies the ground level, skyway, and third levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Bank Plaza (Minneapolis)</span>

The US Bank Plaza is a two-tower high-rise building complex in Minneapolis, Minnesota. US Bank Plaza I is a 561-foot (171 m) tall, 40-floor skyscraper. US Bank Plaza II is a 321-foot (98 m) tall, 23-floor skyscraper. Originally called Pillsbury Center, the complex was completed in 1981. The complex has a 500 car parking garage below and is connected by skyway to the Capella Tower, Hennepin County Government Center, Canadian Pacific Plaza, and the McKnight Building. Tower I served as the corporate headquarters of the Pillsbury Company from its 1981 completion until Pillsbury's acquisition by General Mills in 2001. The name of the building was changed to US Bank Plaza in 2004. The towers are clad in travertine marble and have bronze-tinted reflective windows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">60 South Sixth</span> Class A Office in Minneapolis, Minnesota

60 South Sixth is a 40-story office tower and retail center located along Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota that served as the U.S. headquarters for RBC Wealth Management until their move to RBC Gateway in 2022. The building was formerly known as Dain Rauscher Plaza for Dain Rauscher Wessels, a regional brokerage and investment banking firm based in Minneapolis. Following the 2000 acquisition of Dain Rauscher Wessels by the Royal Bank of Canada and 2008 end of use of the brand by RBC, the building was named RBC Plaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Bancorp Center</span> Skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota

The U.S. Bancorp Center is a 467-ft tall skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Completed in 2000, the 32-story building is the 15th-tallest in the city. It serves as corporate headquarters for US Bancorp and Piper Sandler. A skyway connects the building to the former Macy's/Daytons department store building, and Target. Several low-rise buildings were demolished to make way for this building, including the 808 Building. This is one of the three contiguous blocks designed by Ellerbe Becket from 1998 to 2001. The other two are 900 Nicollet Plaza and Target Plaza. It is the second-tallest office building completed in the United States in 2000, after the Ameriprise Financial Center, also in Minneapolis. The building was among those damaged by rioting during the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul in May 2020. U.S. Bancorp Center has twice been awarded the International Outstanding Building of the Year award for office buildings in 2014 and 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Pacific Plaza</span>

Canadian Pacific Plaza is a 383-ft tall skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was completed in 1960 and has 28 floors. It is the 21st-tallest building in the city. It is the first major post-World War II skyscraper built in Minneapolis. It is also the city's tallest building completed in the 1960s. A skyway connects the building to the Rand Tower, Soo Line Building, and US Bank Plaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RSM Plaza</span> Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

RSM Plaza is a 320-foot (98 m) tall skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Formerly known as McGladrey Plaza, it was completed in 1969 and has 20 floors. In October 2015, the building was renamed RSM Plaza after its largest tenant, McGladrey, changed its own name to RSM. It is the 30th-tallest building in the city and is located on Nicollet Mall. At the time of its completion, the building was the fifth-tallest structure in Minneapolis and the city's second-tallest post-World War II high-rise, behind Canadian Pacific Plaza. The building is skyway connected to The Metro Apartments, the Medical Arts Building and the IDS Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Saint Paul</span> Neighborhood in Ramsey, Minnesota, United States

Downtown Saint Paul is the central business district of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. Its boundaries are the Mississippi River to the south, University Avenue to the north, US 52 to the east, and Kellogg Boulevard to the west. It is bounded by the Dayton's Bluff, Summit-University, West Seventh, Frogtown, West Side, and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods. The West Side neighborhood is on the other side of the river, and can be accessed via the Robert Street Bridge or the Wabasha Street Bridge. Interstate 35E and Interstate 94 run through the north side of the neighborhood, providing a separation between the Minnesota State Capitol and other state government buildings with the rest of downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wells Fargo Place</span> Office in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Wells Fargo Place is an office tower in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It stands at 471 feet (144 m) tall, and is currently the tallest building in St. Paul. It was designed by Winsor/Faricy Architects, Inc. and WZMH Architects, and is 37 stories tall. The building opened in September 1987, a month ahead of schedule and under budget. It is a concrete and steel structure, with a facade of brown-colored granite and glass. The granite came from Finland. The building contains 156 underground parking spaces. It was formerly known as The Minnesota World Trade Center. Anthrosphere, a large sculpture by Paul Granlund, is in the lobby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wells Fargo Plaza (Bloomington)</span> Building in Bloomington, Minnesota

Wells Fargo Plaza is a high-rise office tower complex located at 7900 Xerxes Avenue in Bloomington, Minnesota in the United States. Standing at 300 feet with 24 stories of Class A rated office space, the main tower is considered one of the more dominant landmarks of Interstate 494. The tower connects to an auxiliary three story building through a central atrium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">510 Marquette Building</span>

The 510 Marquette Building is a high-rise office building in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was the first building for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. It was designed by Cass Gilbert, architect of the Minnesota State Capitol building. It is located at 510 Marquette Avenue, at the corner of Marquette Avenue and 5th Street South in Minneapolis, right next to the Nicollet Mall station of the METRO Blue and Green light rail lines, and across from the Soo Line Building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minneapolis City Center</span> Shopping mall in Minnesota, United States

Minneapolis City Center is a mixed-use shopping mall on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It opened in 1983 and occupies the bottom three floors of the 33 South Sixth office building. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Minneapolis City Center contains 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) of leasable retail space. The mall was built around the pre-existing Forum Cafeteria restaurant. The building is adjacent to the Marriott Hotel City Center and connected to the Gaviidae Common shopping mall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railroad and Bank Building</span> Historic building in Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.

The Railroad and Bank Building at 176 E. 5th Street in St. Paul, Minnesota, renamed Great Northern Building in 2019, was the largest office building in the Upper Midwest from its completion in 1914 until 1973. For most of its existence, it was the headquarters of the business empire created by 19th century railroad entrepreneur James J. Hill. The building is the work of architect Charles Sumner Frost and is a contributing property of the St. Paul's Lowertown Historic District. After the decline of the railroads in the United States, the building has been used as leased office space with some retail operations on the lower floors.

References

  1. ↑ "First National Bank Building". Skyscraper Center. CTBUH. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Minnesota Modern Registry, Docomomo US MN, accessed April 17, 2023.
  3. ↑ "First National Bank Building [usurped] " Emporis. Retrieved on September 11, 2008
  4. ↑ "First National Bank Building" Skyscraperpage.com
  5. 1 2 Millett, Larry (2007). AIA Guide to the Twin Cities: The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minnesota Historical Society Press. p. 324. ISBN   978-0-87351-540-5.
  6. ↑ Merchants Bank Building SkyscraperPage.com
  7. ↑ Merchant's Bank Building [usurped] Emporis.
  8. 1 2 Hess, Jeffrey A.; Clifford Larson (2006). St. Paul's Architecture: A History. Minneapolis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press. p. 161. ISBN   0-8166-3590-0.
  9. 1 2 3 Wilcoxen, William (November 25, 2005) "Tough times for the beacon of St. Paul" Minnesota Public Radio
  10. 1 2 Chappell, Kitt; Sally, A. (1992). Architecture and planning of Graham, Anderson, Probst, and White, 1912–1936. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 241–243. ISBN   0-226-10134-7. OCLC   23212354.
  11. ↑ Soenarie, Angelique (April 11, 2004), "What is it? – It looks familiar but ..." Saint Paul Pioneer Press
  12. ↑ "Best Use Of Neon Lighting Archived September 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine " City Pages
  13. ↑ "First National Bank Building Archived September 25, 2008, at the Wayback Machine " CapitolRiver District Council.
  14. ↑ "1st National Bank sign shines a new color for 1st time" . Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  15. ↑ Yuen, Laura (September 9, 2005) "Iconic sign may get company – Anchor Bank plan lights up some foes", Saint Paul Pioneer Press
  16. ↑ "St. Paul Skyscraper Diagram" SkyscraperPage.com
  17. ↑ Wyant, Carissa (January 23, 2007) "St. Paul's First National Bank building sold" Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal
  18. ↑ Gilyard, Buryl (September 20, 2012) [Burl Gilyard]
  19. ↑ Painter, Kristen (November 2, 2015) [Kristen Painter]
Preceded by Tallest Building in Saint Paul
1931—1986
127 m		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.