Architect Philip Johnson had the distinction of designing Minnesota’s tallest skyscraper. Finished in 1972, the IDS Center has 57 stories and its glass façade rises 792 feet. The centerpiece is the Crystal Court. The two floors of shops and restaurants are surrounded by 121 foot walls of zigzagging windows. This atrium is a central hub to the Skyway System. These second-level, temperature-controlled walkways fan out for 11 miles and connect buildings across 69 city blocks. So when it is below zero outside, many Minnesotans walk above the downtown streets without coats.
