Cultural activity in the Twin Cities was stimulated with the completion of the Guthrie Theater in 1963. The bannered glass and steel cube bulding once served as a symbol to the theater-going society. Consulting with the actor Sir Tyrone Guthrie, architect Ralph Rapson created an intimate interior space where the audience was never more than 15 seats away from the stage. The entire complex was inspired by ancient Grecian and Shakespearian theater prototypes. Following the opening of a new theater facility in 2006, the Rapson building was demolished. The site has been turned into a green space and an extention of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. (Adapted from A Field Guide to Landmarks of Modern Architecture in the United States, by Miriam F. Stimpson)