Solar Arts Building

A wonderful venue, great for mingling. Lighting for reading silent auction bid sheets could have been better, but it’s a really great atmosphere.

I visited the Solar Arts Building for a wedding and had a great time.
The space on the third floor is very nice. The wedding and the reception both took place in this space and there were about 150 people, it was the perfect size for this group but there was still some room open in the back, my guess is you could fit 200 – 250 and be comfortable.
I wasn’t privy to the planning of this wedding but I believe Chow Girls is your only catering option, the good news is the food is pretty good. Not the best I have every had (some soupy pies) but solid option for wedding food.
This location was easy to Über to from downtown but it didn’t look like there was a ton of parking around. Also, the neighborhood around there is fine but if you are looking for something scenic this probably isn’t the right location.
I am not positive what type of events this building normally hosts but I would recommend it to someone looking for a wedding venue or any sort of group party like that.

I have visited the Solar Arts Building on a couple of occasions and one of them was their Art of Whirl fair during the summer time. The building is not a typical squeaky clean and polished space but it rather has more of a rustic and truly artsy feel to it. It has CHARACTER. And that is what I loved the most. There are quite a few artists that are stationed out of the Solar Arts Building, and what I love about it is that there is a wide variety of the type of art that you see there. They have painters, photographers, jewelry artists, etc., and a lot of them are very talented.
I also can’t wait until they start to rent out their top level for various events. Perfect space for a wedding reception. Very warm, cozy and inviting with lots of character! (yes I said it again). To top it off, they have a fabulous brewery on the lower level!
The only thing I would say to improve would be more parking space if at all possible. Otherwise, I can’t wait to be back!

I visited the Solar Arts Building for a fundraiser/​beer event called Hops For Hunger in January 2014. This review is about the venue and not the event.
First. There is almost no parking at this building. The evening of the event was cold and we had to walk from a few blocks away. Not fun for my girlfriend in heels. There is a small lot but it was full as the building is also home to Indeed Brewing Company, a very popular local brewery.
We entered the building through the front door and wandered into the hallway. The entry seemed kinda dirty and unkept. There was a tenant directory where names had been crossed off with a sharpie marker, classy.
We peeked around the main floor and it was sort of vacant and dingy, dark, white walls, until you got closer to Indeed Brewing’s space which was super warm and inviting,… more on this place in my next review.
We made our way up to the event on the third floor. The third floor is really cool. Big open space, big timber beams, nicely lit. Only real complaint about the third floor was that there was no bathroom! .,. And it was a beer event! So where are the bathrooms? Down a floor. Second floor. OK found em. Wow! This is a reason to visit this building alone. Instead of doors on the stalls they have somewhat translucent shower curtains on the stalls?! Is this even legal? Not to mention they were filthy. My GF had her’s opened on her while going to the bathroom… There is not way after all to lock a shower curtain. Who knows what these people are thinking.
We took a look around on the second floor after using the facilities. Lots of artists seem to live or work there. Nothing to write home about though, I’m no connoisseur but the art all looked pretty bad.
Anyway, I would never book an event at this place unless it was in the brewery on the main floor. I will feel sorry for the poor misguided bride that decides to have her wedding there… Grandma is not going to like the bathroom stalls.