ILA Penthouse hosts company meetings, receptions, dinners and weddings for between 10 and 225 guests across three connected spaces: the Bar Room, the Sanctuary and a 4,500 sq ft Rooftop Garden. The venue is at 253 West 28th Street in Chelsea, a block from New York City's Flower District, on the 7th floor with a penthouse level above.
Seminars and company events
The venue handles everything from cocktail hours and client receptions to full-day meetings and multi-day conferences. A meeting room seats up to 100, the Bar Room works for breakfasts, lunches and breaks, an additional green room sits in the office, and the rooftop is used for fresh-air pauses or an evening reception.
A sample conference day on the official site runs from a continental breakfast in the Bar Room, through a morning session in the Sanctuary and lunch in the Bar Room, to afternoon breakouts or panels and a rooftop cocktail reception. The Sanctuary offers multiple bars, lighting configurations, a sound system and A/V amenities, and AV packages can be added.
The venue also hosts brand activations, non-profit galas and private classes in floral design, mixology and wellness, since it is the home of FlowerSchool NY.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings and engagement parties use the combination of spaces, with in-house catering and floral design on site. The Sanctuary can take a seated dinner, a gala or a dance party, and the rooftop can be used for the ceremony or the cocktail hour. Planning support, menu creation, staffing and day-of coordination are handled by the venue team.
Rooms and capacities
The Bar Room covers about 1,200 sq ft and holds about 60 guests, with a full wet bar and banquette seating. The Sanctuary covers about 2,200 sq ft and holds about 200 guests, with no columns in the main room according to the venue. The Rooftop Garden covers 4,500 sq ft outdoors and holds about 225. Seated dinners go up to 100 on the venue details page, and the home page cites up to 150 seated in the main room. Standing receptions reach 225. All three spaces are ADA-accessible, with access to three bathrooms, and the building has an elevator.
Catering
In-house catering produces everything from passed hors d'oeuvres to multi-course dinners, for seated events of up to 150 guests. The team builds menus, custom cocktails and staffing with you. The rental includes tables, chairs, linens, glassware and dishware, and the venue works with a list of preferred vendors.
History and setting
ILA stands for the Institute for the Living Arts, home to FlowerSchool New York, which the venue describes as having more than 20 years of floral education behind it. The venue emphasizes sustainability, with eco-friendly floral methods and minimal waste.
Getting there
The building sits on 28th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. The 28th Street station (1 train) is close, with the 23rd Street (A, C, E) and 34th Street Herald Square lines within a few blocks. Penn Station, for Amtrak, NJ Transit and LIRR, is also nearby, and parking garages are in the area.
