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McNamara Alumni Center

University of Minnesota, 200 Oak St SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
800 Guests

Unique Venue Features

  • Runner-Up: Large-Market Venue
  • Best of Awards - Unique Venues

Event Types Welcomed

Adult Social Events
Corporate Social Events
Expo/Competitions
Professional Meeting / Training / Conference / Retreats
Wedding Ceremonies
Wedding Receptions

About

With ten unique rooms all on the first floor, McNamara has many conveniences: award-winning D’Amico Catering onsite and tunnel connections to an adjacent 500-car parking ramp and the Graduate Minneapolis Hotel. With an average customer satisfaction rating of 4.9 out of 5, McNamara is a popular Minneapolis, Minnesota event venue for conferences, galas, holiday parties, wedding receptions and more. A national car commercial, MTV music video and U.S. presidential campaign stops have taken place here. We average between 700-800 meetings, conferences and special events annually.

The alumni center is located on the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota. Its architecture is bold and inspired by the Minnesota landscape of wood, water and copper. The alumni center offers quick highway access, and we’re just 2 Light Rail stops from downtown Minneapolis and 1 transfer to the Minneapolis airport.

Our industry peers have awarded the McNamara Alumni Center with numerous accolades:

  • Best High-Tech Venue by Unique Venues 2015
  • Best Venue Website by Unique Venues 2016
  • Best Meeting Package by Unique Venues 2018
  • Best University Venue by Minnesota Meetings & Events magazine 2016
  • Best Meeting Venue by Minnesota Meetings & Events magazine 2007 to 2012
  • Top 50 Places to Get Married by Brides magazine 2015

Visit mac-events.org to view sample floorplans, menus, photos, pricing and an availability calendar for our event spaces!

Meeting & Event Spaces

Max Capacity: 800 Guests
Largest Classroom Style: 96
Largest Theatre Style: 500
Largest Seated Reception: 600
Largest Standing Reception: 1000

Memorial Hall

Our largest, most stunning event space reflects Minnesotas lakes, the North Shore, Iron Range and Northern Lights. Ideal for galas, keynote addresses, tradeshows and lectures
  • 12000 Sq. Ft.
  • 500 Banquet Style
  • 600 Theatre Style

Johnson Great Room

Our premier meeting room features copper and wood walls, built-in projector and screen.
  • 2000 Sq. Ft.
  • 160 Banquet Style
  • 96 Classroom Style
  • 175 Theatre Style
  • 36 Conference Style

Heritage Gallery

The Heritage Gallery is a multimedia museum that honors the accomplishments of University of Minnesota students, alumni, faculty and staff.
  • 2000 Sq. Ft.
  • 50 Banquet Style
  • 50 Theatre Style

Ski-U-Mah

Named after a phrase from the University of Minnesota rouser, Ski-U-Mah (SKY-u-ma) is a centrally located meeting room with built-in AV.
  • 1100 Sq. Ft.
  • 90 Banquet Style
  • 56 Classroom Style
  • 100 Theatre Style
  • 36 Conference Style

University Hall

This room boasts McNamara-signature copper and wood interior with one entire wall of windows overlooking a landscaped patio.
  • 2000 Sq. Ft.
  • 120 Banquet Style
  • 96 Classroom Style
  • 176 Theatre Style

Thomas H. Swain Room

Opened in Fall 2010, this room is similar in ambiance to the Johnson Great Room--copper and wood interior with built-in AV.
  • 1500 Sq. Ft.
  • 90 Banquet Style
  • 56 Classroom Style
  • 108 Theatre Style
  • 32 Conference Style

Food & Beverage Options

D'Amico & Sons Cafe

Award-winning D'Amico & Sons operates an on-site cafe Monday through Friday 7 am to 2 pm.
Seating Capacity: 100

Catering Options

D'Amico Catering

Award-winning D'Amico Catering is located on-site. Their full-time staff office in the building.

Accommodations

  • Total Number of Overnight Guests: 300

Graduate Minneapolis Hotel

Graduate Minneapolis Hotel is connected by tunnel to the Alumni Center and offers 304 sleeping rooms. The hotel was completely renovated in 2015. 
304 Rooms

This accommodation has A/C

Featured Amenities

A/V Equipment
Accessible Facilities
Air Conditioning
Bus
Dance Floor
Eco-Friendly
In-House Catering
Lactation Station
Near Public Transit
Outdoor Space
Overnight Rooms
Paid Parking
Running Trails
Taxi
Theater Seating
WiFi

Venue Location + Transportation

Address

University of Minnesota,

200 Oak St SE,

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455

Transportation

Taxi
Bus
Metro
Subway
Lyft
Uber

Nearby Airport

Minneapolis St Paul Int'l - 15 minutes

Nearby International Airport

Minneapolis St Paul Int'l - 15 minutes

Parking

Parking on Site: Yes

Car charging stations: Yes

Nearby Cities

Minneapolis – 1.5|St. Paul – 4

Things to Know

Catering

In-house catering available

Must Use In-House Catering: Yes

External Catering Allowed: No

Can Bring In Own Food: No

Cultural Catering Available: Yes

Food And Beverage Onsite: Yes

Do You Offer Tables, Chairs, And Linens?: Yes

Venue Policies

Alcohol Consumption: Yes

Smoking Permitted: No

Cannabis Industry-Friendly: No

Cannabis Consumption: No

Eco Friendly: Yes

ADA Accessible: Yes

Family Friendly: Yes

Technology

In 2015, Unique Venues named us Best High-Tech Venue! Memorial Hall’s built-in 32,000 lumen laser projectors are superior with dual screens that exceed client expectations. Wireless Internet access and video conferencing are available throughout the conference center. The Johnson Great Room is capable of 2-way teleconferencing and videoconferencing. Outstanding on-site AV technicians and videographers are also available for virtual streaming and hybrid events.

Guest Wi-Fi: Free

Onsite Tech Support: Yes

Wi-Fi In Meeting Space: Yes

Equipment Available On-Site:
  • Projector Screen
  • Laptops
  • Microphones
  • Sound System
  • Custom Lighting

Testimonials

I can honestly say that I have never worked with a better facility and staff in all my 20 years in the special events industry. From the time we began our planning-right through to the final goodbye-every person associated with the McNamara Alumni Center bent over backwards to understand our needs, offer advice, support and solutions, and deliver everything that was promised.

Historic Events

I never worry about my events held at the McNamara Alumni Center. The event staff anticipates my needs and meets all of our complex logistical requirements. For every event at the Alumni Center, my high expectations are exceeded.

Carlson School of Management

I wish I could convince all of our course directors to hold their conferences at the McNamara Alumni Center. Ive never received so many unsolicited comments praising the location and food! I look forward to working with their wonderful staff again.

Continuing Medical Edication

I have never worked with more professional event staff. From a logistical standpoint, our event was flawless. I would recommend the Alumni Center to anyone looking for a state-of-the-art facility offering first class service.

IBM

The Alumni Center is a gorgeous setting for a celebration with terrific amenities. The Alumni Center staff is exceptional.

Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine

The Alumni Center is a fantastic place to throw a party! The staff gave us the feeling that they cared as much about our daughters wedding as we did.

Mother-of-a-bride

The Alumni Centers audio visual capabilities are outstanding. At the last minute we required a live video feed to our overflow seating and the staff cheerfully responded with, Yes, we can do that. I was extremely pleased.

Breck School Auction

The Alumni Center is a great space - the architecture is so alive and dynamic. The huge projection screen makes our video presentations very powerful.

Headwaters Foundation for Justice

The Alumni Center is a tremendous location for a conference. It is conveniently located, its meeting rooms have distinguishing characteristics and the service was outstanding. I received many unsolicited comments praising the location by our conference attendees.

Allina Hospitals & Clinics

Nothing, and we mean nothing, could have gone better on our wedding night and we thank you for that. The building, set-up & AV were all amazing.

Bride-and-Groom

Technology

Best Meeting Facility

Voted by Minnesota Meetings Events Magazine as Best Meeting Facility (Non-Hotel) 2007-2012. Noted for our superior, built-in AV and video conferencing capabilities.

Best High Tech Venue

Voted by Unique Venues 2015

We Connect Unique People With Unique Spaces

MEET TO YOUR OWN DRUM

At Unique Venues we believe that at the core of being unique is inherent inclusivity. We celebrate the notion that people gather for different reasons and that audiences are filled with humans of every race, gender expression, spiritual belief, sexual orientation, age, political leaning, and more.

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