Set in the world of art and architecture, "Three to Tango" provided a great showcase for the impressive creative team behind the scenes. Production designer David Nichols crafted a visual style that he describes as "real yet grandiose" for each of the characters.

The unique look of the film incorporated a number of unusual set pieces, including a working glassblowing studio and a pair of massive architectural models, both of which posed unique challenges to the skilled art and construction teams.

Amy's glass studio was a fully functioning facility, built into a century-old abandoned distillery in downtown Toronto. (Principal photography took place in Toronto, with second-unit work in Chicago.) In order to accommodate the furnaces and glory hole (a special furnace used to reheat glass as it is being worked), the historic building had to be completely retrofitted to adhere to strict fire and safety guidelines. The furnaces, which must be maintained at 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, required that they be fired up for almost a full week of pre-heating to reach that temperature. The entire time the ovens were operating, a special 24-hour fire guard kept watch on the facility.

The large-scale architectural models, which are the centerpieces of the competition pitting Oscar and Peter against Decker and Strauss, proved to be engineering feats in their own right. A team of 16 specialized model-builders and carpenters labored a month on the two pieces. Each of the massive models (which covered almost 600 square feet and measured over seven feet high) were crafted in extraordinary detail, from the working doorways and delicate moldings, right up to the elaborate cornices on the roofs. Even computer-driven laser cutters were employed to create the intricate ironwork on the model's windows. Upon completion of construction, a complete lighting crew descended on the models and created a computerized light show within each structure. The lighting proved so elaborate that there were more individual lights within each model than there were on any of the actual sets of the movie. This massive lighting detail generated so much heat inside of the models that special cooling systems had to be utilized.

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