McMenamins Kennedy School can host company meetings, receptions and weddings in eight rooms, from a 12-seat library to a 200-seat theater that fits 225 in theater layout. The venue occupies a former elementary school built in 1915 in northeast Portland, Oregon, now run as a hotel with a pub, a brewery, a movie theater and a soaking pool.
Seminars and company events
The meeting rooms are the old classrooms and shared spaces of the school. The Cypress Room seats 40 for a banquet, and the Martha Jordan Room and the Mina Parsons Room each take 40 buffet, 24 classroom, 48 theater or 18 conference style. The Agnes Kennedy White Library suits a board session for 12 seated or a standing reception for 24, with fixed furniture. The Gymnasium works for larger plenary sessions, with 150 in theater layout and 108 in classroom layout.
The Boiler Room, the Cypress Room and the Kennedy School Theater are offered for day use, Monday through Friday. The Boiler Room is limited to guests aged 21 and over.
Weddings and receptions
Kennedy School appears on the McMenamins wedding page. The Gymnasium seats 112 for a banquet and takes 160 for a standing reception. The Gymnasium Courtyard is an outdoor space of 1,600 square feet, with a banquet for 56 and a reception for 160. The Boiler Room holds 100 for a reception, and the Theater can be used for larger gatherings.
Rooms and capacities
The Theater measures 3,400 square feet. The Gymnasium and the Boiler Room are the largest rooms for dinners, at 112 and 100 guests. The three 713-square-foot rooms (Cypress, Martha Jordan, Mina Parsons) are the practical choice for breakouts or a dinner of around 40.
Accommodation
The building has guestrooms on site, so a group can stay where it meets. The hotel is pet friendly and has free Wi-Fi. Soaking pool access costs a small fee for day visitors and is free for overnight hotel guests.
Catering
Full on-site catering is offered, with accommodation for most dietary restrictions. The food and beverage minimum covers service staff, bartenders, tables, chairs, china, flatware, glassware and linens, and there is no separate room rental fee once the minimum is reached. Beer, wine and spirits made by McMenamins are served at its locations. A sales coordinator handles the planning before the event.
History and setting
The school opened in 1915 in a Renaissance Revival building and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The classrooms, library and gymnasium were kept and reused, which gives each event room a clear identity, and the property sits in the Concordia area of northeast Portland.
Getting there
The address is 5736 NE 33rd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97211. Parking and transit details are best confirmed with the sales coordinator when you plan the event.
