Rand Tower

Rand Tower Hotel
Rand Tower Hotel from the west
Rand Tower is located in Minnesota
Rand Tower
Rand Tower is located in the United States
Rand Tower
Location527 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coordinates44°58′38.5″N 93°16′11″W / 44.977361°N 93.26972°W / 44.977361; -93.26972
Built1928–1929
ArchitectHolabird & Root[2]
Architectural styleArt Deco
NRHP reference No.84003937[1]
Added to NRHPApril 14, 1994
The Wings sculpture in the lobby

The Rand Tower Hotel, Minneapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is a 26-story high-rise hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Designed by the Chicago architectural firm Holabird & Root in the Art Deco style, the building was completed in 1929 as an office tower and was among the tallest structures in the city at the time.[2]

Commissioned by and named for Rufus Rand Jr., a World War I aviator and Minneapolis businessman, the tower incorporates aviation-themed ornamentation, including the lobby's Wings sculpture by Oskar J. W. Hansen. It originally served as headquarters for the Minneapolis-based Rand Corporation and later housed various commercial tenants.

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 for its architectural significance.[1] Following a $110 million adaptive reuse project by Maven Real Estate Partners, the property reopened in December 2020 as part of the Tribute Portfolio, a brand of Marriott International. The conversion created a 270-room full-service hotel with preserved Art Deco features, modern guest amenities, two dining venues, a rooftop event space, and direct access to the Minneapolis Skyway System.[3][4]

Hotel conversion and operations

In 2017, Maven Real Estate Partners purchased the Rand Tower building with plans to convert the historic office tower into a hotel.[5] The $110 million renovation began in 2019, led by The Gettys Group, and preserved the building’s original Art Deco and aviation motifs—including terrazzo flooring and the *Wings* sculpture—while updating it for modern hospitality use.[6]

The hotel opened in December 2020 as part of Marriott International’s Tribute Portfolio, offering 270 guest rooms and direct access to the Minneapolis Skyway System.[7] The first-floor venue, **Bar Rufus**, serves breakfast, dinner, coffee, and cocktails in a French-inspired bistro setting.[8]

On the fifth floor, the space formerly hosting Blondette and Miaou Miaou has been reconfigured as **Fifth Floor at the Rand**, a flexible function and event venue. The venue includes a retractable glass roof, an 800-square-foot outdoor terrace, and a dedicated catering kitchen, and is designed to host weddings, receptions, corporate meetings, and private dining for up to 80 guests.[9][10]

History

The Rand Tower Hotel was designed by Holabird & Root for Rufus Rand, a World War I aviator who was part of the family that owned the Minneapolis Gas Company (Minnegasco), now part of CenterPoint Energy. Rand had flown in the Lafayette Flying Corps during the war. Much of the building is covered in Art Deco ornamentation that follows an aviation theme and there is a sculpture Wings in the lobby by Oskar J. W. Hansen. The original builder was C.F. Haglin & Sons.

A skyway was attached to the building in 1969.[11] 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.[12] Maven Real Estate Partners purchased the building in 2017 for $18.7 million.[13] Maven converted the office building[14] into a 270-room hotel,[15] at a cost $110 million.[16] The Rand Tower Hotel opened on December 2, 2020, as part of the Tribute Portfolio division of Marriott.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Minnesota Modern Registry". Docomomo US MN. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  3. ^ Rietmulder, Michael (December 19, 2017). "Rand Tower in downtown Minneapolis to become boutique hotel". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  4. ^ "Rand Tower Hotel, Minneapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel". Marriott International. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  5. ^ Rietmulder, Michael (December 19, 2017). "Rand Tower in downtown Minneapolis to become boutique hotel". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  6. ^ Jordahl, Dominium (November 20, 2020). "Rand Tower Hotel readies for debut in downtown Minneapolis". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  7. ^ "Rand Tower Hotel, Minneapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel". Marriott International. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  8. ^ "Bar Rufus". Marriott International. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  9. ^ "Downtown Minneapolis Event Space". Marriott International. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  10. ^ Staff, LODGING (February 12, 2025). "Rand Tower Hotel Updates Dining and Event Offerings". Lodging Magazine. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  11. ^ Beach, James. The skyways turn 40. Skyway News. Published May 13, 2002, retrieved on November 28, 2006.
  12. ^ Grayson, Katherine (September 3, 2008). "Rand Tower tower sold for $10.2M". Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal. Advance Publications. Retrieved September 4, 2008.
  13. ^ Niksa, Matthew (July 17, 2019). "Owner of Rand Tower converting it into boutique Marriott hotel". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  14. ^ Niksa, Matthew (July 17, 2019). "Owner of Rand Tower converting it into boutique Marriott hotel". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  15. ^ Niksa, Matthew (July 17, 2019). "Owner of Rand Tower converting it into boutique Marriott hotel". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  16. ^ "Rand Hotel Tower opens this week after $110 million renovation". Star Tribune.
  17. ^ "Rand Tower Hotel Opens December 2".

Rand Tower

Oskar J.W. Hansen

Rufus R. Rand

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