Rand Tower Hotel

Rand Tower
Rand Tower Hotel from the west
Interactive map of the Rand Tower area
Former namesDain Tower (late 1960s–1992)[7]
General information
StatusCompleted
Architectural styleArt Deco
Location527 Marquette Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Coordinates44°58′38.5″N 93°16′11″W / 44.977361°N 93.26972°W / 44.977361; -93.26972
Named forRufus R. Rand Jr.[6]
CompletedJune 7, 1929[1]
Height
Height311 ft (95 m)[2]
Design and construction
ArchitectHolabird & Root[4]
DeveloperRufus R. Rand Jr.[3]
Main contractorC.F. Haglin & Sons[5]
Designations
Official nameRand Tower
DesignatedApril 14, 1994[8]
Reference no.84003937[9]
Designated1994[10]
Rand Tower Hotel, Minneapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Interactive map of the Rand Tower Hotel, Minneapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel area
General information
Location527 Marquette Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
OpeningDecember 2, 2020[11]
ManagementMarriott International
Other information
Number of rooms270[12]
Website
Official site

The Rand Tower Hotel is an aviation-inspired Art Deco building located in downtown Minneapolis’s financial district. Completed in 1929, it briefly was the city’s tallest skyscraper until the Foshay Tower opened later that year.[13][14] The building was the vision of Rufus Rand, Jr., which was symbolic of the city's prominence to serve as the headquarters for his company, Minneapolis Gas and Light Company (now Xcel Energy).[15][16] Rand contracted with Chicago based Holabird & Root to design the building which was constructed by C.F. Haglin & Sons.[17][18]

Rand, a World War I aviator with the Lafayette Flying Corps, embedded aviation motifs within the building’s design.[19] The embodiment of Rand’s vision is depicted above the Marquette St. entrance, where two sculptures are carved into the limestone façade of Mercury with winged helmets and ankles, with each holding a biplane.[19][20] As the Roman god of commerce, travelers, and communication, Mercury was chosen to symbolize progress and movement, welcoming visitors into a lobby with terrazzo floors embedded with star and moon crescent designs.[19][21]

Elements such as the Wings sculpture in the lobby by Oskar J. W. Hansen further emphasize this theme.[22] The two lion-cub mascots, Whiskey and Soda, associated with his Lafayette squadron, also were featured prominently.[19]

In 1963, a permanent overhead walkway was built, followed by a 1969 extension to the NorthStar Center, linking the Rand Tower to the Minneapolis Skyway System.[19]

Renamed Dain Tower in the late 1960s when investment company Dain Rauscher occupied it, the name reverted after they moved out in 1992.[19] The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 for its architectural design and significance.[23]

Hotel conversion and facilities

Maven Real Estate Partners purchased the property in 2017 for approximately US$18.7 million.[12] After considering a co-working space, Maven decided on a repurposing project, ultimately converting the building into Minnesota’s first Tribute Portfolio by Marriott, aptly named the Rand Tower Hotel.[19][24] The design was curated by ESG Architecture & Design to preserve Rand’s vision.[25][26]

The hotel opened in 2020 with 270 guestrooms, 7,141 sq. ft. of event space, including a unique 5th open space with a glass roof, and Bar Rufus, the hotel’s main restaurant.[27]

History

It originally served as the headquarters of the Minneapolis Gas and Light Company (now Xcel Energy).[19]

A skyway was attached to the building in 1969.[28] Rand Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It was known for a time as the Dain Tower until Dain Rauscher relocated to the Dain Rauscher Plaza just down the street in 1992. It was purchased by Gaughan Companies in 2004. In 2008, Hempel Properties purchased the Rand Tower to house its headquarters.[29] Maven Real Estate Partners purchased the building in 2017 for $18.7 million.[12] Maven converted the office building[12] into a 270-room hotel,[12] at a cost of $110 million.[30] The Rand Tower Hotel opened on December 2, 2020, as part of the Tribute Portfolio division of Marriott.[31]

Architecture and art

The building was designed in the Art Deco style by the Chicago firm Holabird & Root.[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ Star Tribune staff (June 7, 1929). "Rand Tower opens". Star Tribune.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "Rand Tower – The Skyscraper Center". CTBUH. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  3. ^ "Rand Tower Historic Signage". Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  4. ^ "Minnesota Modern Registry". Docomomo US MN. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  5. ^ "Rand Tower". City of Minneapolis. January 21, 2025. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  6. ^ "Rand Tower – City of Minneapolis Landmark". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  7. ^ "Rand Tower Historic Signage". Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  8. ^ "National Register Information System: Rand Tower". National Park Service. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  9. ^ "National Register Information System: Rand Tower". National Park Service. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  10. ^ "Minneapolis landmarks and districts map". City of Minneapolis. February 13, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  11. ^ DePass, Dee (November 30, 2020). "Rand Hotel Tower opens this week after $110 million renovation". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d e Niksa, Matthew (July 17, 2019). "Owner of Rand Tower converting it into boutique Marriott hotel". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "Rand Tower History". Clio. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  14. ^ "Rand Tower". SAH Archipedia, University of Virginia. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  15. ^ "Rand Tower Historic Signage". Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  16. ^ "Rufus R. Rand". Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  17. ^ "Rand Tower Landmark Information". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  18. ^ "Rand Tower". SAH Archipedia, University of Virginia. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h "Rand Tower Historic Signage". Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  20. ^ "Rand Tower". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  21. ^ "Rand Tower". SAH Archipedia, University of Virginia. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  22. ^ "Rand Tower Landmark Information". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  23. ^ "Rand Tower Landmark Information". City of Minneapolis. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  24. ^ "Rand Tower Hotel". Hospitality Design. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  25. ^ "Rand Tower Hotel – Gettys Group". Gettys Group. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  26. ^ "Rand Tower Project". Central Roofing Company. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  27. ^ DePass, Dee (November 30, 2020). "Rand Hotel Tower opens this week after $110 million renovation". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  28. ^ Beach, James. The skyways turn 40. Skyway News. Published May 13, 2002, retrieved on November 28, 2006.
  29. ^ Grayson, Katherine (September 3, 2008). "Rand Tower tower sold for $10.2M". Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal. Advance Publications. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  30. ^ DePass, Dee (November 30, 2020). "Rand Hotel Tower opens this week after $110 million renovation". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  31. ^ DePass, Dee (November 30, 2020). "Rand Hotel Tower opens this week after $110 million renovation". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  32. ^ "Rand Tower". SAH Archipedia, University of Virginia. Retrieved September 9, 2025.

Rand Tower

Oskar J.W. Hansen

Rufus R. Rand

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