Positioned along the beautiful Lake Michigan, Chicago is one of the most populated cities in the U.S., making it a prime location for conferences and other B2B events. From the city’s bold architecture to its wide array of museums, there are venue choices to suit every event type. Here are our favorites:
Chicago Illuminating Company
Location: Chicago, IL
Event Type: Outdoor gathering, lunch & learn, speaking event, happy hour
The Space: Chicago Illuminating Company is a beautiful indoor/outdoor space filled with lush gardens and modern spaces.
Amenities: Contact for details.
Catalyst Ranch
Location: Chicago, IL
Event Type: Small or large conference, focus groups, lunch and learn, team building
The Space: The Catalyst Ranch prides itself as being one of Chicago’s “most creative meeting and event space”. The large open meeting spaces are filled with natural light, vintage furniture, furnishings, and toys that are meant to spark the imagination. If your goal is to create an interactive and fun experience for your guests that they won’t find somewhere else, we suggest you pick the ranch for your next event.
Amenities:
- All-inclusive pricing includes onsite support staff, A/V, snacks and drinks. No catering minimum.
- Contact for more information.
Moonlight Studios
Location: Chicago, IL
Event Type: Small or large conference, product launch or speaking event, focus groups, lunch and learn, team building, executive dinners
The Space: Moonlight studios is situated in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood and offers 6 versatile room options, including a 6,000 sq ft. acoustically treated space, three galleries, and more!
Available rooms include:
Moonlight Studio
The Moonlight Studio features 24-foot high acoustically treated ceilings, chandelier lighting, a traveling I-beam crane system, a high-capacity rigging system, catwalks, storage, craft services area and 600 amps of 3 phase power.
- 6,000 sq ft.
- Seated Dinner: 330
- Cocktail Reception: 500
- Classroom: 380
- Theater: 400
Gallery Spaces:
The gallery spaces are made up of three interconnected galleries. They each feature a full-track lighting system, exposed brick, wood floors, and weathered beams.
Gallery 01
- 1,750 sq ft.
- Seated Dinner: 100
- Cocktail Reception: 150
- Classroom: 120
- Theater: 150
Gallery 02
- 1,350 sq ft.
- Seated Dinner: 90
- Cocktail Reception: 100
- Classroom: 100
- Theater: 140
Gallery 03
- 950 sq ft.
- Seated Dinner: 50
- Cocktail Reception: 80
- Classroom: 60
- Theater: 75
Moonlight Suite
- 865 sq ft.
Foyer
- 1,650 sq ft.
Amenities:
- Basic lighting provided
- 8 highboy tables and 17 72” round tables provided
- See website for preferred vendor list and more info.
ROW 24
Location: Chicago, IL
Event Type: Lunch and learn, focus group, happy hour, company party
The Space: ROW 24 sits in Chicago’s historic motor row district, where top companies such as Ford, Bick, and Cadillac used to display their automobiles in elaborate showrooms. Walking into the venue feels like a transport to 1920 Chicago, with contemporary designs and modern accents.
Amenities:
- Rental rates include a 10-hour rental from set-up, to the breakdown, to load-out, allowing 6 hours of event time. Each additional hour is $300.
- For floor plans and more detailed information, click here.
- A dedicated ROW 24 Venue Manager is available
- On-site security available
- 2 self-service coat racks and wooden hangers
- 150 wood folding chairs
- 10 -60 in. round tables
- 8 - 8 ft. long tables
- 15 - high boy tables
- 4 - 4 foot tables
- 1 - 5 ft. table (escort card & gift table)
- House sound (Sonos system)
- 65 inch Samsung flat screen TV
- A collection of restored mid-century modern furniture.
- Lectern podium
- Private bridal room
- 2 - custom movable bars
- On-site recycling
- Wireless Internet
- Social tables collaborative event planning software
Greenhouse Loft
Location: Chicago, IL
Event Type: Small conference, lunch & learn, product demo, speaking event, happy hour
The Space: Chicago’s Greenhouse Loft is a fully customizable 3,600 sq ft. event space in Logan Square, complete with 16’cielings in the glasshouse, floor-to-ceiling windows along the east wall, and a beautiful outdoor skygarden.
BONUS: Greenhouse Loft prides itself on being eco-friendly. The building is Certified Platinum LEED, the highest possible ranking from the U.S. Green Building Council. They have an indoor air quality sensor and filtration system, as well as an 8,000 sq ft. organic skygarden with native prairie plants and trees. They make an effort to reduce waste by serving items in bulk when possible, have eliminated the use of plastic utensils, have energy-efficient lights and windows, use water-efficient toilets, and more.
Amenities:
- For a full list of amenities, click here.
- Use of the loft space, plus adjacent outdoor garden and art gallery space
- A dedicated Greenhouse Loft Liaison is available to help with planning
- Open catering list
- 25 8’x30” custom farm tables
- 10 28” custom cocktail tables
- 200 white Tolix chairs (indoors) + 200 natural wood folding chairs (outdoors)
- 25’ custom permanent bar + BYOB
- Custom bars on casters for use in the outdoor space & art gallery space
- DJ Services available
- Custom DJ booth with in-house VOID sound system both indoors and out
- Custom vintage photobooth
- Private bridal suite/green room
- Videowall/projector with graphic design services
- 30 car parking lot
- Candle treatment
- Security personnel
- Coat check
- Track & drape system
Navy Pier
Location: Chicago, IL
Event Type: Large conferences, product launch, Lunch and learn, focus group, happy hour, company party
The Space: The Navy Pier in downtown Chicago is a lively destination for tourists and locals alike. Complete with fair rides, delicious food, a variety of shopping, and a perfect view of Chicago, the pier is a great spot for any type of event.
Venue options include:
Aon Grand Ballroom
The 18,000 sq ft. Aon Grand Ballroom has a sweeping 80-foot domed ceiling and panoramic views of the lakefront, while showcasing Chicago's timeless architecture. The Aon Grand Ballroom can hold up to 1,100 for dinner with additional seating for 300 in the balcony above.
Amenities Include:
- Panoramic Lake Michigan and skyline views
- 5’ elevated Stage, 52W x 29D
- 80” domed ceiling washed in 3,000 dimmable lights
- Light truss featuring a general stage wash and fixed Spot lights
- Permanent state of the art sound system
- Direct Access to outdoor space
- Freight Door 8”-6’ W x 8’ H
- Floor Load Capacity: 100 psf
Crystal Gardens
Operated by Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants, the Crystal Gardens venue at Navy Pier is a magnificent place to host your next corporate or social event.
The Crystal Gardens can accommodate groups of 100 to 1,500 guests. The venue is operated by Phil Stafanu Signature Restaurants, providing you with a customized menu and a unique experience for each any type of event.
Festival Hall
The Festival Hall is over 170,000 sq ft. and can be used as one large room or divided into two separate halls.
Amenities include:
- Eight truck dock for loading and unloading
- Access to services including telecommunications
- Electricity and plumbing connections available
- There are 36 meeting rooms adjacent to the hall
Lakeview Terrace
Lakeview Terrace is an urban loft space featuring exposed brick, floor-to-ceiling windows , and views of both Lake Michigan and the city skyline. The venue sits at 15,000 sq ft. and accommodates groups up to 1,000.
Meeting Rooms
Adjacent to the Festival Hall are 36 meeting rooms that range in size from 750 to 8,200 sq ft.
Amenities:
- For information on services available, click here.
The Pillar Loft
Location: Chicago, IL
Event Type: Product launch, lunch and learn, happy hour, small conference
The Space: Located in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood, The Pillar Loft is a fun, open, and unique space that can be adapted for any style.
Amenities include:
- Rent by the hour or half-day discounted rental
- Recommend catering and vendor list available
- Handicap accessible and fido friendly
- Close to major highways 90/94 & 290
- Two blocks from the CTA Blue Line
- Six 42″ inch tall 30″ round high boys available
- Ten 6 foot by 30″ commercial folding tables
- Fifty Black Rhino plastic chairs
- Twenty tan cushioned steel chairs
- Open Kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite countertop and sink
- Ten-foot granite Bar with back bar and sink
- Central air and heat
- Four-foot DJ station with under storage
- Two Rockville 400-watt speakers on stands with bluetooth capability
- Wi-Fi
- Epson Projector available to rent $150
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