University of Maryland, College Park
College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is the flagship campus of the 12-school University System of Maryland. Planners bring their events to UMD for “the wonderful facilities we have on campus, the community we’re in and our proximity to Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; and Annapolis,” said Tom Flynn, director of conferences and visitor services.
With 35,000 undergrad students, 1,300 acres and a wide variety of venues, “we have something for everything,” he said.
The Adele H. Stamp Student Union, or simply “the Stamp,” is “our go-to,” with 18 meeting rooms, including the 8,800-square-foot Grand Ballroom that can seat 450 for banquets. The Colony Ballroom has 6,480 square feet, and the Stamp also offers the 500-fixed-seat Hoff Theater.
At the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, planners have their choice of six theater venues, among them an 86-seat black-box theater and the cathedrallike Elsie and Marvin Dekelboum Concert Hall, with 962 seats and a 134-seat choir loft.
The Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center’s 7,270-square-foot alumni hall can seat 500 for banquets or be split into three smaller spaces, and the center provides a range of conference rooms, club lounges and outdoor terraces.
The Hotel at the University of Maryland opened in September directly across the street from the campus’ main entrance. The full-service luxury hotel has 297 guest rooms and suites, as well as its own 43,000 square feet of conference space in 18 event spaces, including three ballrooms.
Towson University
Towson
Towson University sits less than 10 miles due north of Baltimore, but the campus also sits on more than 300 lush acres.
“I like to say we are city close and campus quiet,” said Jeannie Deckelbaum, associate director of event and conference services.
Attendees enjoy trees and green space on the parklike campus, which makes it “easy for organizers to pick up their flip charts and go outside and have a whole different learning experience,” she said. But if a planner wants to explore Baltimore one night, “they can do that very easily, too.”
University Union has nearly 23,500 square feet of function space, including two large ballrooms and another eight rooms for smaller events or breakout space. The Chesapeake Room on the third floor can seat 342 guests for meals, and the second-floor Potomac Lounge can seat 286 for dinners.
The West Village Commons has 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom that can accommodate up to 400 for banquets or be divided into three smaller rooms.
On the southwest edge of campus, Secu Arena seats 5,200 for sporting events, concerts and keynote speakers, but the arena floor also transforms into a banquet venue for up to 1,000 guests. Two on-campus pavilions, one climate controlled, work well for barbecues and picnics.
While meeting on campus, planners can use Towson’s climbing wall or low-ropes challenge course for team-building activities. Groups can also arrange campus tours, scavenger hunts and geocaching expeditions.
