Help me find futuristic Minnesota

September 2, 2011 9:43 AM

I am preparing to do a photo shoot, and am looking for quasi-futuristic or ultramodern places in Minneapolis to use as a backdrop.
posted by Bunny Ultramod to Travel & Transportation around Minnesota (11 answers total)

I'd say Guthrie Theatre, The Foshay, or the Minneapolis Public Library.

Granted, I'm speaking as a recent tourist. I bet local residents would have some better, less notable suggestions.
posted by Bathtub Bobsled at 9:57 AM on September 2, 2011

The Science Teaching and Student Services building on the West Bank is awesomely futuristic-looking. Members of the public can go inside of it, but I don't know whether you will be able to do a big photo shoot. I don't believe anything fairly informal would be a problem at all. It is a pain to travel around the U right now, so I would investigate parking before heading out.
posted by amj at 10:00 AM on September 2, 2011 [1 favorite]

The Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum? It's shiny!
posted by the_blizz at 10:05 AM on September 2, 2011 [2 favorites]

The Walker Art Center.
posted by Hither at 10:07 AM on September 2, 2011

I was just going to suggest the Weisman, but I see it's taken. Really, the UMN campus is full of places that either look futuristic on their own (Weisman, the new building across the plaza from the Weisman, McNamara, maybe Rapson) or like some weird past idea of the future (Moos, Williamson).
posted by COBRA! at 10:30 AM on September 2, 2011

The Walker Art Center's Sculpture Garden has a "secret room" on the side of the museum, built into a grassy hill (sort of where the old Guthrie used to be, if you're familiar with the area). I think it looks pretty futuristic.

one photo
another (colors altered)
the roof of the room

Otherwise yes, the interior/exterior of the new Guthrie has quite a few futuristic-looking areas, such as their yellow room
posted by castlebravo at 11:52 AM on September 2, 2011

I'm just brainstorming places that are more public (seems like a lot of the above sites, which would be perfect, might have some hoops or fees to be allowed to have a photoshoot in/at them), but could you somehow treat some of the famous downtown skyways in a way that comes off as futuristic? The glass, the perspective of being up in the sky, floating above the street or city...

This could be the OPPOSITE of what you're going for, but maybe the Mill Ruins could lend themselves to some sort of apocalyptic, steam-punk futurism.

What's the office building downtown that has the wavy sculptured lawn in front of it? It's sod that looks like undulating waves or like alien pods are buried underneath.
posted by dahliachewswell at 11:56 AM on September 2, 2011

With regard to fees/access: I had engagement photos taken in the new Guthrie without any sort of reservation/fee/hassle whatsoever.
posted by jilliank at 4:07 PM on September 2, 2011

What's the office building downtown that has the wavy sculptured lawn in front of it? It's sod that looks like undulating waves or like alien pods are buried underneath.

That's the Federal Office Building, and I'm guessing is one of the less-likely places to be able to do a photo shoot.
posted by Ickster at 8:30 PM on September 2, 2011

Best answer: Everyone already mentioned the futuristic architecture I could think of, but how about Brackett Park? They have a giant sculpture of a rocket, which is sort of futurey.
posted by vytae at 10:44 PM on September 2, 2011

On the subject of parks, [to add a rather late response to this question for future searchers], I would highly recommend Peavey Plaza downtown. Pretty much the definition of 'futuristic urban park.'
posted by brightghost at 11:16 PM on December 2, 2011