Glass Dover Traction Elevator (Removed) - Gaviidae Common II - Minneapolis, MN

This was one of my favorite elevators to ride in downtown Minneapolis, but it has sadly been dismantled due to a complete building renovation. It was a really cool Dover traction elevator serving the former Gaviidae Common II shopping mall. What they did to this place is turn the 3rd and 4th floors into office space, completely separating it from the levels below. The lower level, first, and second floors are renovated retail space, and the whole establishment is connected to the RBC tower next door, essentially turning this building from a mall into a fancy lobby, called RBC Plaza. So that means this elevator had to go, and it's a real shame too because I felt it was one of the more unique elevators in Minneapolis. In its' place (well, nearby anyway) is a new Otis traction elevator (non-scenic) which serves the lower, first, and second floors. The third and fourth floors are accessible through the main RBC tower elevators, though I'm guessing that area is restricted access. I had taken this video footage several years ago using an iPhone 4, hence the not-so-good video quality. I was hoping to get a higher quality retake, but never had the chance, so here is everything I was able to find of this now-demolished elevator.

[@Dana_Danarosana]

Damn!! I was just in Gaviidae South a couple of weeks ago and noticed the 4th floor Skyway was closed to the public. I was rushing and didn't even have a second to investigate. The original Gaviidae (south bldg.) is also private offices now above the 2nd floor but the atrium is still intact. I guess it's been a couple years but I used to love the food court in Gaviidae North... and, of course, the elevator!! I did wonder why it seemed to be getting louder and louder each time I was there and nothing was ever done about it. I guess this was the plan for a while?

[@NorthlandElevators]

+Dana Danarosana This caught me off guard as well. I had walked over the skywalk late last year going to the north end of Gaviidae Common to ride this again and thought I got lost, as nothing looked the same. The atrium is gone above floor 2 as it was converted to office space. There is a new Otis traction serving floors G, 1, and 2. The elevators in Gaviidae South still let you go to the upper floors, which I didn't know were private access, though it's pretty obvious that there are no longer any stores there. I guess a lot has changed in this place!

[@Laa1213]

I wish I could have ridden this elevator it looks scary but fun

[@Laa1213]

What did the movement of the elevator feel like gravity? It went up and down super fast!

[@NorthlandElevators]

It was a very fast elevator!

[@kevmex8119]

It’s a YMCA now.

[@jdrailfan5424]

I rid this elevator when I was little

[@Laa1213]

Do you know the name of the song that was playing at the start of the video?

[@NorthlandElevators]

Don't know what it is