PianoForte Studios in Chicago's South Loop rents a 3,000 square foot recital hall for meetings, seminars, workshops, trainings, panels and networking events. Seating reaches 75 chairs in theater style. The hall sits below the PianoForte Chicago piano showroom at 1335 S Michigan Ave.
Seminars and company events
The venue describes its hall as suited to concerts, meetings, seminars, conferences and networking events. Its own list of formats includes presentations, workshops, trainings, client or internal meetings, speaker panels, team off-sites, planning sessions and networking evenings. For a half-day training or an internal all-hands of up to 75 people, the room works as a single plenary space with a stage at the front.
Technical support is available on request. The team can provide a projector with a 13 foot screen and HDMI, VGA, Thunderbolt, mini DisplayPort and USB-C connections, a podium, sound amplification and seminar tables. Audio and video recording and a live stream to YouTube, Facebook, an RTMP server or your own website are also offered. Additional fees apply to these services, so ask for them when you send your request.
Weddings and receptions
The official site presents the hall for concerts, meetings and corporate-style gatherings. It does not describe weddings or private receptions, so this page does not list the venue as a wedding location. If you plan a ceremony or a reception with music, ask the team directly whether it is possible.
Rooms and capacities
The rental covers the main hall of 1,131 square feet, a green room and 75 chairs. A lounge with a kitchenette can be added to the hall. The venue states that the 3,000 square foot space seats up to 75 people in theater layout. Adding banquet or meeting tables reduces that number, and a grand piano at the back of the hall can occasionally limit seating further. Plan your layout with the team before you confirm a head count.
The hall is on the second floor. Guests reach it by the main entrance staircase or by the elevator at the back of the building. The elevator needs a staff member to operate it, so tell the team when you expect guests with reduced mobility or heavy equipment.
The stage carries a Fazioli F212 concert grand piano, and the room is set up for live sound. That makes it a good choice when your seminar opens or closes with a short performance, or when you want a keynote with live music.
Catering
The official site mentions a lounge and kitchenette and does not describe a catering service or a list of approved caterers. Ask the team what food and drink arrangements are allowed before you plan a reception after your session.
History and setting
PianoForte Chicago has sold and rented pianos since 2004. The company runs a showroom with instruments from Steinway and Sons, Bösendorfer, Fazioli, Bechstein and Kawai, a recording studio and a concert series. The venue below the showroom hosts school auditions, graduation recitals, chamber music and jazz evenings, as well as meetings of piano technicians and music teachers. Your event therefore takes place in a working music venue, with the acoustics of a recital hall rather than the look of a conference room.
Getting there
The hall is in the South Loop, about two miles from McCormick Place. It is within walking distance of the Roosevelt CTA station, which serves the Red, Orange and Green lines, and of restaurants and Chinatown. Midway Airport is easy to reach. The venue has a parking information page for guests who arrive by car.
To request a date, send the rental request form on the official site with your date, start and finish times, expected attendance and technical needs. The team answers with a quote based on the event type, duration, number of attendees and day of the week.
