Our Building
Our historical building is located on Lowry Hill in Minneapolis, MN, near the Walker Art Museum.
We are open for visitors during the week (please make an appointment!), on Sundays, and serve as a rental venue throughout the year.
Our historical building is located on Lowry Hill in Minneapolis, MN, near the Walker Art Museum.
We are open for visitors during the week (please make an appointment!), on Sundays, and serve as a rental venue throughout the year.
Opened in 1951, First Unitarian Society’s building is located on Lowry Hill. The architect, Roy N. Thorshov, was a member of the Society and a noted Minnesota architect associated with the firm of Thorshov and Cerny. Mr. Thorshov, who received first prize from the Religious Guild in the Exhibit of Church Architecture for the building, described it as a “contemporary building for a contemporary religion.” Today the building is considered an outstanding example of mid-century modern architecture.
Built of distressed salmon-colored brick, the facility originally included an assembly hall seating 480 persons, with seating for another 250 in the balcony, a lower-level assembly space, library, classrooms, and offices. An addition, dedicated in 1965 and designed by the architectural firm of Peterson, Clark and Griffith, Inc., provided more classrooms and office space, and a vestibule on the Groveland Avenue entrance.
Approaching the building from Mount Curve Avenue, one immediately notices its low profile. Unlike many religious buildings that feature towers and spires, the Society’s structure appears to hug the earth. This sense of oneness with nature is further enhanced by a “colonnaded” walkway that, much like a cloister, wraps around the front of the building and leads to a partially enclosed courtyard.
The upper assembly hall features a north-facing window that bathes the interior in natural light and provides access to the exterior world, consisting of the buildings of downtown Minneapolis and even a peek at Claus Oldenburg’s “Spoonbridge and Cherry” in the sculpture garden of Walker Art Center.
The Society’s organ was dedicated in November 1962. Built by the Holtkamp Organ Company of Cleveland, Ohio, the pipe organ has 25 stops and three manuals. The exterior of the cabinet is oak, finished to harmonize with the existing wood work of the building.
The building is open by appointment only. Please schedule a visit by calling 612-377-6608 or emailing office [at] firstunitarian dot org. We are available most weekdays 10 AM – 3 PM.
First Unitarian Society is located in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis at 900 Mount Curve Avenue. While nestled into a residential neighborhood, we are reachable from I-94, Franklin Avenue, and Lyndale/Hennepin Avenues.
Our main entrance is located on Mount Curve Ave. across from Thomas Lowry Park.
Our lower entrance, located near the Walker Art Museum, is on Groveland Terrace. Please note FUS does not unlock or have staff attend this entrance outside of Sunday assemblies and building events.
For cyclists: Bike racks are available at the Mount Curve entry.
For transit riders: Find us off Metro Transit Bus Routes 4 & 6
Free parking is available on neighborhood streets. Out of respect for our neighbors, please pay attention to posted signs and driveway setbacks (and fire hydrants!)
Paid parking is available in the Vineland Parking ramp at the Walker Art Museum.
Parking On Sundays:
Cost: If you exit by 12:30 p.m., parking is free with a voucher (available from the greeter at either entrance to FUS). If you exit past 12:30 p.m. there may be a minimal charge.
Entering: Entering: Take Hennepin or Lyndale Avenue to Vineland Place. Turn west on Vineland Place. Turn left into the parking ramp.
Pull up to the ticket machine and a ticket will print automatically for you. You are now on level P1.
The easiest access is from level PM (mezzanine) which is up a ramp to the right, but you can park on either level.
On either level look for the green EXIT sign (not the main doors to the Walker.) You will find a stairwell and an elevator.
If you take the elevator, go up to Level 2 (Control Center), and walk past the guard station to exit on Groveland.
If you are in the stairwell, go to the Groveland pedestrian exit.
Once you exit the ramp, FUS is across the street.
Be sure to get a parking voucher from the greeter at either entrance to FUS.
Exiting: Pay at the exit or at a walk-up Pay Station. Insert your parking ticket followed by the parking voucher. If there is a balance you can pay with a credit card.
Accessible parking spaces are available on Mount Curve Avenue, in front of the building. The upper entrance is wheelchair accessible.
The lower entrance next to the Walker Art Museum is on Groveland Terrace and has a wheelchair ramp.
Our building at 900 Mount Curve Avenue is fully accessible* . Wheelchair access is available from both the Mount Curve entry and the Groveland entry, although the Groveland ramp is considerably longer.
Our building features exterior door openers and elevator service to all three floors. There are accessible restrooms on each floor and the restrooms are designated non-gender. The Upper Assembly Hall, our main room, has an assisted hearing device system available as well as a wheelchair lift to the stage.
*Balcony & mezzanine above the Upper Assembly Hall are only accessible by stairs; no elevator access.
Our renovated mid-century modern building includes modern air conditioning, non-gendered individual bathroom stalls, walk in entrance, and an elevator. Located in a quiet residential neighborhood, we offer stunning views of the nearby Walker Art Center and downtown Minneapolis. Ours is a welcoming space for all people, and small and large events.
Our building offers a variety of spaces for your event. Our main gathering space, the Upper Assembly Hall, is free of religious artwork or icons. A clean, crisp mid-century space for your event, it seats upwards of 400 with spectacular views of the Minneapolis skyline, Walker Art Center, and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. It has excellent acoustics for live music presentations. The Upper Assembly Hall has a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system as well as video and projection capabilities to livestream your event. There are stage extension platforms and choral risers as well as a podium for staging variety. Two very fine instruments housed on the stage are our Holtkamp organ and the 7-foot Steinway grand piano. The Upper Assembly Hall is located just inside the main entry at 900 Mount Curve Avenue. There are accessible restrooms, a water fountain, and coat room on the same level.
From a small group in our Library that seats 15 people with views of the Minneapolis skyline, to a sit-down dinner for 175 in our Lower Assembly Hall, we have a space for your gathering. Our Dietrich Room faces a courtyard and is perfect for a board meeting or lectures for up to 50 people. Our Chalice Room surrounds you in walnut, brick, and glass, and seats 75. Our outdoor spaces include a patio adjacent to the Lower Assembly Hall; it’s perfect for enjoying a beverage or roasting marshmallows by the fire.
A shared meal is the centerpiece of many celebrations. In our building we have two kitchens available for your event preparation. The main kitchen is connected to the Lower Assembly Hall and is a full commercial kitchen with stainless steel appliances. It regularly serves meals for 175 people. We also have a galley-style kitchen connected to the Dietrich Room and very useful for breakfast and lunch meetings, rehearsal dinners, and business meetings. It’s also a lovely space for a cocktail party for up to 50. You are free to use any licensed caterer for your event. Need recommendations? We have them!
We include tables and chairs at no additional cost. We offer fee-based audio visual services, live streaming, flat screens, projection, sound technicians, linens, coffee, tea and water setups, door monitors, dish services, recording capability, and more.
