The theater seating and illuminated main staircase in the Luminary Arts Center performance space in Minneapolis, MN.
The theater seating, illuminated main staircase, and tension wire lighting grid suspended from the ceiling in the Luminary Arts Center performance space in Minneapolis, MN.
The concession and ticket booth at the Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis, MN. A charcoal concrete waterfall bar top is accented by a white oak slatted soffit overhead (which is also wrapped on the exterior of the island) and a blue light fixture reminiscent of a classic theater marquee sign.
Doors open to the main theater entrance in the lobby of the Luminary Arts Center.
The main lobby of the Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis, MN with two people standing at a circular high top table inside with another person walking behind them into the theater entrance. The concession/ticket stand can be seen on the left.
The illuminated main staircase from the lobby to the theater in the Luminary Arts Center.
The main theater space, including the seating, main staircase, red performance floor, and historic limestone wall backdrop in the Luminary Arts Center performance space in Minneapolis, MN.
The main theater space and historic limestone wall backdrop with a quartet of string instruments playing live at the Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis, MN.
A man walking across the tension wire lighting grid suspended from the ceiling of the Luminary Arts Center.
The main theater space, including the seating, performance floor, and historic limestone wall backdrop with a grand piano in the center at the Luminary Arts Center performance space in Minneapolis, MN.
The dressing room at the Luminary Arts Center performance space in Minneapolis, MN where a room is lined with wall mirrors and chairs positioned in front of individual getting-ready stations.
The accessible and gender neutral bathrooms with individual stalls and a shared sink at the Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis, MN.

Luminary Arts Center

Shelter and MN Opera approached the Luminary Arts Center renovation with commitments to maintain the historic character of the theater and its surrounding North Loop neighborhood while also improving accessibility, inclusivity and safety. Space planning had to better address needs of a wider group of performers, technicians and audiences.

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Luminary Arts Center

Shelter and MN Opera approached the Luminary Arts Center renovation with commitments to maintain the historic character of the theater and its surrounding North Loop neighborhood while also improving accessibility, inclusivity and safety. Space planning had to better address needs of a wider group of performers, technicians and audiences.

Designers created a bright, welcoming entrance and lobby, with large street-side windows to establish community connections. The floor plan invites attendees — including those using wheelchairs — to take in a spectacular view of the performance area two stories below. An elevator formerly tucked away in a dark corner (barely noticeable without assistance), is now in plain sight adjacent to a grand stairway. Patrons choosing either method to descend wind up in the same spot. All restrooms are now gender-neutral, consisting of fully enclosed individual stalls and shared sink areas. Anyone may use any stall, which alleviates confusion and conflict, and helps ensure privacy and safety for all (including, not only trans and nonbinary users, but also caregivers who must accompany children or adults). Some stalls are wheelchair-accessible, and some include changing tables — including one sized for older children and adults. Performers’ dressing rooms, including showers, are gender-neutral and wheelchair-accessible now, too.

Other changes executed in the renovation — including a new tension-wire lighting grid and a redesigned load-in area — have improved safety, efficiency and flexibility for performers and technicians. But, not everything in the space has changed. The stage still offers a stunning, dramatic stone backdrop. With recent renovations complete, there’s now a wider array of artists in front of it, mounting a broader range of productions to entertain, engage and educate a more diverse audience.

Completed

2022

Team

Shelter, MN Opera, LS Black Constructors, Quetica LLC, Meyer Borgman Johnson, Kirkegaard, NTH, Schuler Shook

Accolades

2024 ASID National Community FOCUS Award | 2024 AIA Minneapolis Merit Award | 2024 Midwest Home Design Awards First Place, Commercial Lobby

Photographer

Jasper Lazor

The theater seating and illuminated main staircase in the Luminary Arts Center performance space in Minneapolis, MN.
The theater seating, illuminated main staircase, and tension wire lighting grid suspended from the ceiling in the Luminary Arts Center performance space in Minneapolis, MN.
The concession and ticket booth at the Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis, MN. A charcoal concrete waterfall bar top is accented by a white oak slatted soffit overhead (which is also wrapped on the exterior of the island) and a blue light fixture reminiscent of a classic theater marquee sign.
Doors open to the main theater entrance in the lobby of the Luminary Arts Center.
The main lobby of the Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis, MN with two people standing at a circular high top table inside with another person walking behind them into the theater entrance. The concession/ticket stand can be seen on the left.
The illuminated main staircase from the lobby to the theater in the Luminary Arts Center.
The main theater space, including the seating, main staircase, red performance floor, and historic limestone wall backdrop in the Luminary Arts Center performance space in Minneapolis, MN.
The main theater space and historic limestone wall backdrop with a quartet of string instruments playing live at the Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis, MN.
A man walking across the tension wire lighting grid suspended from the ceiling of the Luminary Arts Center.
The main theater space, including the seating, performance floor, and historic limestone wall backdrop with a grand piano in the center at the Luminary Arts Center performance space in Minneapolis, MN.
The dressing room at the Luminary Arts Center performance space in Minneapolis, MN where a room is lined with wall mirrors and chairs positioned in front of individual getting-ready stations.
The accessible and gender neutral bathrooms with individual stalls and a shared sink at the Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis, MN.