Going Philly

From the Liberty Bell to Rocky Balboa, the City of Brotherly Love is full of iconic images — and it’s one of the main reasons Philadelphia is such an interesting option for special events and meetings.

Recently, Event Solutions toured Philadelphia searching for the city’s most unique event venues. It quickly became clear that it has several excellent, though more conventional, meetings spaces such the Philadelphia Convention Center (which, by 2009, will offer nearly 1 million square feet of meeting and event space). Yet, while these options offer high levels of service and special event expertise, what really makes Philly unique is the city’s wide variety of historical and contemporary venues — ranging from the 1800s to the present day.

1. National Constitution Center

When you think of Philadelphia, many famous things come to mind: Ben Franklin. Cheesesteaks. Great sports teams. And, of course, the United States Constitution. So, considering that the city is the birthplace of this historic document, there should be little surprise that the National Constitution Center takes first place on our list of unique Philadelphia event venues.

Designed by the world-renowned Pei Cobb Freed & Partners firm (architects for, among other spaces, the recent Louvre expansion in Paris), the Center opened in 2003. In addition to serving as an interactive museum with detailed exhibits on the history of the Constitution, the 160,000-square-foot venue can accommodate functions for up to 2,500 guests.

Indeed, planners can take advantage of a whole host of options — from an entire facility buyout to smaller spaces such as the dramatic 360-degree Kimmel Theater, which seats over 300 hundred guests, and the recently opened Bogle Chairman’s Room.

The true gem of the Center, however, is the Grand Hall — a 25,000-square-foot space that features 40-foot-high windows overlooking historic Independence Hall, where the Constitution was signed. Groups can also rent the adjoining rooftop terrace with unimpeded views down Independence Mall. Combined into a single venue, the Grand Hall and rooftop terrace offer attendees a beautiful panorama of Philadelphia’s historical landmarks — one of the most unique views anywhere in the country.

2. Carpenter’s Hall

It’s not often that an event planner can give attendees the opportunity to gather in the very same place that the First Continental Congress met at the birth of this country. In the heart of Philadelphia’s historic district, that’s exactly what Carpenters’ Hall offers.

Built in 1774, the Hall has hosted a wide variety of events, including visits by the Republican National Convention, the Queen of England, and the King and Queen of Sweden. But you don’t have to be royalty to reserve this privately owned center-city facility located in the middle of Independence National Park.

While Carpenters’ Hall certainly isn’t the largest of venues, it can accommodate meetings of up to 125 guests in the hall and adjacent outdoor patio area. Additionally, even though it oozes historic character (including original chairs that the Framers themselves once used), the Hall offers modern conveniences like audio-visual options.

Needless to say, this 200-year-old facility easily makes the list as one of Philadelphia’s most unique and interesting event venues — one where your guests can, literally, take a place in history.

3. The Franklin Institute Science Museum

When global consulting giant KPMG went looking for a unique venue to hold a recent company event, it quickly found exactly what it was looking for at The Franklin Institute.

“There is no room in Philadelphia that can impress guests quite like the magnificent grandeur of the Institute’s Franklin Hall,” says KPMG’s Brian Rivell. Indeed, this spectacular hall is just one reason why the Institute — home to the National Benjamin Franklin Memorial — comes in at number three on our list.

Founded in 1824, the science and technology museum offers planners options including the 9,800-square-foot Bartol Atrium, the 5,100-square-foot Franklin Hall and the Tuttleman IMAX theater.

The most unique option of all is the Institute’s rooftop deck that adjoins the facility’s 2,000-square-foot conference center. From here, attendees can enjoy the city’s largest rooftop venue with grand views of the downtown skyline and historic Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Add to that the fact that groups holding an event at the Institute can enjoy many of the museum’s permanent exhibits, and it’s easy to see why Rivell found this venue a great fit for his company.

“We wanted an event under the stars…literally. We got the stars, and a very large rising moon, at one of the most unique venues in Philadelphia, the Planetarium at the Franklin Institute,” he says. “This was a perfect venue for a party that was out of this world.”

4. Hub CityView

In a city full of history, there’s one very contemporary venue that provides a unique combination of high-end technology and hip design. Located on the 14th floor of United Plaza in downtown Philadelphia, the Hub CityView has become one of Philly’s hottest options for daytime and evening events.

One reason is the venue’s flexibility — it offers meeting rooms that accommodate groups ranging from two to 50, with seminar and reception space for up to 200 guests.

Another one of the Hub’s calling cards is its 10 uniquely themed meeting spaces. These vary from the Microsoft HQ-inspired Think! room (with floor-to-ceiling whiteboard walls) to the more traditional Carroll room, with its classic fixtures and dark wood furniture. Add the tech-industrial Edison room and the avant-garde Magellan room, and you can see why companies like IBM and GlaxoSmithKline have called the 13,500 square feet of event space at the Hub CityView one of Philadelphia’s very best venues.

5. Moshulu

Rounding out the top five is a rare floating venue in Philadelphia. Known as Moshulu, this 100-year-old ship has sailed throughout the world and even found work during both World War I and World War II.

Today, the Moshulu is permanently docked at Penn’s Landing along the west bank of the Delaware River. Since an extensive renovation in 2003, the 200-foot-tall ship has been hosting special events in Philadelphia for groups of all sizes. These have ranged from small board meetings in one of the private dining rooms to 2,000-person events encompassing the entire ship and all five decks (most of which can be tented for seasonal conditions).

Not surprisingly, the list of clients holding special events on the ship has ranged from small, local establishments to large Fortune 500 companies — with a wide variety in between. Even Cirque du Soleil — the epitome of unique entertainment — recently rented the ship as the site of the Philadelphia wrap party for one of its traveling shows.

With a AAA Four Diamond dining award in 2006, technology-ready rooms and amazing waterfront views, the Moshulu certainly represents a unique Philly option.