Conference & Convention Centers CONFERENCE CENTERS & AUDITORIUMS AIRTEL PLAZA HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER5
This property has more than 21,000 square feet of meeting space: The Concorde Ballroom holds 425, the Lindbergh Ballroom holds 60, and the Earhart Room holds 50. There are gardens, a restaurant and patio, and a boardroom. (7277 Valjean Ave., Van Nuys, 818.997.7676) ANNENBERG AUDITORIUM AT U.S.C.
This 220-seat U.S.C. auditorium has an onstage lectern with a touch-screen computer to direct audiovisual presentations, plus a fully equipped projection room. No food or drink are allowed in the auditorium. (3502 Watt Way, 213.821.1593) BOVARD AUDITORIUM AT U.S.C.5
One of the oldest stages in L.A., this Italian Renaissance-style building opened in 1922 for church services. Renovations in 2003 included new seating layouts and stage design, upgraded theatrical systems and acoustics, and new lobbies. The auditorium seats 1,235, and an outdoor walkway seats 100. (3551 Trousdale Pkwy., 213.740.4211) BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL HALL AT UCLA
Named after Tom Bradley, the first black mayor of Los Angeles, this 28,000-square-foot building is home to multicultural student and community programs. The 5,270-square-foot International Room holds 600 and is divisible into six salons. Several meeting rooms, plus two galleries, can be used for breakout sessions. (417 Charles E. Young Drive, 310.206.8966) CENTER AT CATHEDRAL PLAZA5
Adjacent to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, this facility has seven meeting rooms, plus the Cathedral Ballroom, which holds 1,000. Three conference rooms have built-in projection screens, and a plaza holds 4,000. Catering is available. (555 West Temple St., 213.680.5273) COTSEN AND MAGNIN AUDITORIUMS5
Part of the Skirball Center, this Jewish cultural center has two auditoriums: the semicircular 650-seat Cotsen Auditorium and the 350-seat Magnin Auditorium with surround sound, 35-millimeter and video projection, and Internet access. Additional meeting spaces seat as many as 330 theater style. Several courtyards and terraces hold 200 to 1,500. (2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., 310.440.4500) DAVIDSON EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTER5
This U.S.C.-owned facility has eight meeting rooms; the largest holds 400. The vineyard is also available, with indoor and outdoor seating. Rooms feature ergonomically designed furniture, projectors, motorized screens, teleconferencing gear, and sound systems. (3415 South Figueroa St., 213.790.9366) DE NEVE PLAZA AT U.C.L.A.5
This facility on the U.C.L.A. campus has a 430-seat auditorium with an adjacent 3,700-square-foot meeting room that seats 220 or holds 400 for receptions. There are also three breakout rooms, two computer labs with 20 workstations each, and a courtyard. (351 Charles E. Young Drive West, 310.825.5451)
symphony shell. The west lobby holds 400 for receptions; the terrace seats 300 for banquets; and the Royce Lounge holds 125. (U.C.L.A. Campus, Box 951529, 310.825.4401) SAN GABRIEL MISSION PLAYHOUSE5
This Spanish-style auditorium, built in 1927, was designed to look like the Mission San Antonio de Padua in Monterey, California. The 1,380-seat theater has side boxes and chandeliers that resemble lanterns used on 19th-century Spanish galleons. A patio holds 100, and outdoor space around the property’s fountain holds 300. (320 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel, 626.308.2865) SANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM
Open since 1958, this Modernist building has hosted the Oscars in addition to concerts and sporting events. The hydraulic floor can convert it from a 3,000-seat performance venue to a 27,000-square-foot exhibit space, with room for 149 booths (or 250 with additional tenting). (1855 Main St., Santa Monica, 310.458.8551) SHRINE AUDITORIUM AND EXPO CENTER
The Shrine has hosted many events—from MTV award shows to Miss Universe pageants—since opening in 1926 (the original 1906 building burned down in 1920). With 6,300 seats and a 54,000-square-foot expo center, it’s one of L.A.’s largest event spaces. (665 West Jefferson Blvd., 213.748.5116) SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER
This museum celebrates Jewish culture with exhibitions, music, theater, films, and literary programs. With the Santa Monica Mountains as a backdrop, the center offers indoor and outdoor spaces—including Ahmanson Hall, with a ballroom and courtyard for receptions for as many as 1,200—and 41,000 square feet of meeting rooms. The center has several courtyards and terraces, with reception space for 200 to 1,500. (2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., 310.440.4500) SUNSET VILLAGE AT U.C.L.A.
This center has views of U.C.L.A.’s campus. The 5,295-squarefoot Grand Horizon Room holds 650 and can be split into seven salons. Three meeting rooms hold 80 each. The 350-seat Northwest Campus Auditorium has teleconferencing capabilities. (330 De Neve Drive, 310.825.2075) U.C.L.A. LAKE ARROWHEAD CONFERENCE CENTER5
The main lodge and original guest cottages of this center were built in 1920. Upgrades in the 1980s and ’90s included the addition of two-story condos and more meeting facilities; the largest seats 200. An amphitheater seats 200, and 10 of the property’s 40 acres are available for events. (850 Willow Creek Road, Lake Arrowhead, 909.337.2478) VETERANS MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM
Since 1950, this 1,500-seat auditorium has been the centerpiece of the Veterans Memorial Park complex. There are 776 fixed seats, including 329 in the balcony; 824 folding chairs can be set up on the 10,000-square-foot main floor. Eleven meeting rooms of various sizes are also available. (4117 Overland Ave., Culver City, 310.253.6625)
GLENDALE CIVIC AUDITORIUM
Mainly used for meetings and trade shows, the 11,000square-foot upper auditorium seats 1,100 theater style or 750 banquet style. In the lower auditorium, a sunken floor with a vinyl surface and an adjacent conference room hold 700. Two kitchens are available, as is parking for 570 vehicles. (1401 North Verdugo Road, Glendale, 818.548.2787) LUCKMAN THEATER
The Luckman Fine Arts Complex was built on Cal State University’s L.A. campus in 1994. The auditorium seats 1,152 or converts to a 500- or 624-seat house. There are two rehearsal studios, a greenroom, and digital and projection screening capabilities. (5151 State University Drive, 323.343.6600) MARK TAPER AUDITORIUM
Home to the “Aloud” art, performance, and lecture series since 1993, this intimate auditorium in the Los Angeles Central Library holds 235. The lobby seats 50 or holds 75 for receptions. (630 West 5th St., 213.228.7025) PACIFIC PALMS CONFERENCE RESORT5
The conference center at this resort features 45,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a 12,000-squarefoot ballroom. All 28 meeting rooms have views of the San Gabriel Mountains, ergonomic furniture, high-speed Internet access, drop screens, and sound systems. (1 Industry Hills Pkwy., City of Industry, 626.810.4455) PASADENA CIVIC AUDITORIUM
This 3,029-seat space has hosted Broadway musicals, the Emmys, the People’s Choice Awards, and American Idol tryouts. The floor has 1,922 fixed seats and 98 installable orchestra pit seats. The loge seats 560, the upper balcony seats 449, and the gold room holds 300. (300 East Green St., Pasadena, 626.449.7360) ROYCE HALL5
This 1,834-seat auditorium, with its two Romanesque-style towers, has served as the symbol of the U.C.L.A. campus since it opened in 1929. The theater has an orchestra pit and a
5= Venues that offer outdoor event space
CONVENTION CENTERS LONG BEACH CONVENTION & ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
This complex includes Long Beach Arena, an 825-seat theater, a 3,051-seat theater, and a convention center with 34 meeting rooms. The grand ballroom seats 1,200 or holds 2,272 for receptions and can be divided in two. The Seaside Ballroom holds 700. (300 East Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, 562.436.3636) LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER
Adjacent to Staples Center, this convention center, built in 1971, was upgraded in 1993 and 1997. The center has 720,000 square feet of exhibit space and 147,000 square feet of meeting space, with 43 meeting rooms and a 299-seat theater. The south hall seats more than 22,000 theater style; the west hall holds 17,000. (1201 South Figueroa St., 213.741.1151 ext. 5340) ONTARIO CONVENTION CENTER5
This center has 225,000 square feet of event space. The column-free 70,000-square-foot exhibition hall can be split in two, and the 20,000-square-foot ballroom can divide into three. There are also 24 breakout rooms and a 12,000-squarefoot plaza. (2000 East Convention Center Way, Ontario, 909.937.3000) PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER
After a recent $150 million expansion, the convention center has 60,000 square feet of exhibit space, 25 breakout rooms, and a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom. The complex’s 28,000-square-foot conference building offers 19 meeting rooms on two levels. The 3,000-seat Pasadena Civic Auditorium is adjacent; its gold room holds 250 for receptions. (300 East Green St., Pasadena, 626.793.2122 ext. 258) RIVERSIDE CONVENTION CENTER5
This facility has more than 45,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space. The Ben H. Lewis Hall seats 1,250 or holds 1,500 for receptions, the Raincross Ballroom holds 750, and a plaza holds 1,500. (3443 Orange St., Riverside, 951.346.4700 ext. 4708)