Urn-ing at the Accenture Tower

All bad puns aside, the Accenture Tower boasts four gorgeous urns. Two reside on the street level of the building and two sit just outside in their stately front courtyard, all just steps away from the skyway.

Here is some detail from the two inside urns. All four are by St. Paul native Paul Manship, and were completed in 1917 for the estate of financier Charles Schwab. The late Manship was a prominent art deco sculptor probably best known for the gilt bronze Prometheus, which graces Rockefeller Center in NYC. 

Feel free to visit these vessels on a weekend too, as the courtyard and skyways of the lovely (and LEED certified) Accenture Tower are open on Saturdays and Sundays as well as during the week. For a full listing of the weekend skyway hours, check out page 23 of the Downtown Journal's Downtown Guide.

Art Smorgasbord - The Capella Tower

There is so much art in the Capella Tower that it would take a few hours to check out all the items that grace their lobby and skyway. I've only highlighted a few things here as I'm hoping to inspire you to go downtown to see all of the sculpture, paintings and mixed media that are on display. The blown glass pieces throughout the skyway lobby are by Dale Chihuly 1985-87. The set are called his Macchia Forms. 

This amazing sculpture sits at the entrance of the south Skyway in the Park Building. Called Disguise the Limit, it was done by noted sculptor John Chamberlain in 1991. It's made of painted and chromium plated steel as the artist likes to use old auto parts in his pieces.

The Capella Tower has a nice sitting area at the skyway level and offers free wifi. The concierges are friendly and you get a great view of the suspended glass sculpture Fresnel Wing - 1993 by James Carpenter, that was commissioned for the space. My picture does not do it justice. Go see it immediately! 

Iconic Signage - Murray's Restaurant

Home of the Silver Butterknife Steak

Taken from the skyway on a rainy May day, this shows how the skyway can make one of downtown's venerable establishments look dreamlike. The Murray's signage makes you want to settle in for a 28 oz. strip sirloin for two, the famous Silver Butterknife Steak.

Here's the beautiful signage straight on. 

And if you are in it for the eats, here's a review from Jane and Michael Stern's popular Road Food website. They call it a lovely place to dine and I agree wholeheartedly.

Citizen - Sculpture in the Skyway

The AT&T Building in downtown Minneapolis is attached to the skyway and features this sculpture called "Citizen." Although I'm not known for my patriotic tendencies, I do like this particular sculpture because it's two pieces grab your attention from several angles almost requiring you to take notice and interact with it. The two-piece bronze sculpture is by Aristides Burton Demetrios circa 2007.

The Artichoke, as Minneapolitans like to call the AT&T Building, is one of the sights of the city skyline. For more info on the skyscraper, look here and here.

Lumber Exchange Chandelier - Lighting as Art

This is a glamour shot of a great chandelier in Minneapolis. It has been in this city since 1979, but first graced the Alan Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1852, and was wired for electricity in 1927.

The chandelier hangs in the Lumber Exchange Building, the city's first skyscraper. It's full of great details including a gorgeous revolving door, a sweeping staircase, and even decorative elevators. Care to rent an office in this historic beauty?