Reliastar Building, Formerly Northwestern National Life Insurance Building

I go back and forth on whether or not I like this building. It has a distinctive style, and it must have been quite impressive for 1964 when it was built. It is the only building downtown that sports a reflecting pool, but the style just sort of says "King Kong's Cage" to me somehow.

It also cheeses me off that because of the front of this building, Nicollet Ave will never get back to Bridge Square like it used to. Call me a Luddite if you will, but I think that this was a grave mistake on the city's part. Gateway park should still be there. For these reasons and my general distaste for "Modern" architecture, this building annoys me. It's unfair that I'm holding this building responsable for decisions it didn't make, but I don't care.

This isn't saying I hate this building. Of the three local Minoru Yamasaki buildings, this is by far my favorite. When I was giving River City Trolley tours, this one always seemed to be favorably received. I think I would be crazy about this building if it was ANYWHERE but where it is. I just don't think it belongs or even fits in the Lower Loop.