Actors pride themselves on making spectacular entrances. So it is with the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company. Modeled after Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London, a 10-sided, two-and-a-half-story high tower welcomes visitors to the newly expanded theatre, recognized as North America’s flagship theatre for young people and families.

Created with rings of 150-year-old rough Northern white pine timbers from the Big Joe flour mill in Wabasha, Minn., the tower is not only dramatic, but also environmentally sensitive. Despite the challenges of a project this size, Wilkie Sanderson assembled the tower in only five days.

Today, visitors to the theatre can look up through the tower to a skylight, making the sight spectacular day and night.