New design for Guthrie Theater

The newest design for the Guthrie Theater’s $125-million riverfront complex in Minneapolis will feature giant images of past productions on the building’s exterior.

In French architect Jean Nouvel’s updated design, the images are silk-screened onto the silvery and dark blue stainless-steel walls of the nine-story building.

Joe Dowling, the Guthrie’s artistic director, said the new look will give the building a more theatrical image. The early design, a blocky yellow building, was criticized for looking too industrial when it was unveiled a year ago. The new color will be midnight blue.

The Guthrie has raised $63 million of its $75-million private fund-raising goal for the 250,000-square-foot complex. It’s requesting $35 million in state bonding money.