National Union Building

National Union Building

Event Types Welcomed

  • Adult Social Events
  • Corporate Social Events
  • Expo/Competitions
  • Family Reunions
  • Professional Meeting / Training / Conference / Retreats
  • Wedding Ceremonies
  • Wedding Receptions
  • Youth Retreat/Camps

About

The National Union Building is a historic building constructed in 1890 offering elegant, private event and entertainment spaces in downtown Washington, DC. Located at 918 F Street, Northwest, The National Union Building is at the center of the lively neighborhood of Chinatown/Penn Quarter, surrounded by restaurants, bars, shopping, and historical landmarks. Designed by a young, local architect named Glenn Brown, the Romanesque, stone clad façade maintains period details such as soaring ceilings, curved glass, exposed brick, and an original wrought-iron staircase circling DC’s last central-core elevator cage.

OwlStone (6th Floor) – A Primary Private Event Space that is sold as a whole unit. In the section closest to the front of the building, the ceiling soars to show the original roof structure. It is the perfect space to celebrate major life events such as weddings, anniversaries, and large birthday parties. OwlStone is also the ideal place for a Wow! Evening Business event such as a Cocktail Party or large Networking event.

  • Seated with Tables & Chairs = 120
  • Theater Style Seating = 380 for the whole space; 150 in the front, 230 in the back
  • Cocktail Party = 120

G.R. Roberts (4th Floor Front) – A Primary Event Space located at the front of the building. It features original wood floors and tin ceilings. With nooks with windows running along one side that can be set with seating and a beverage service station. I t is a beautiful space for a party, intimate concert or Happy Hour. Projectors are built into the ceiling with screens along an exposed brick wall running the other length of the space. Across the front are large windows that look out onto the rooflines in the heart of the city. Creating a sophisticated setting for Business Presentations and Meetings.

  • Seated with Tables & Chairs = 50
  • Theater Style Seating = 150
  • Cocktail Party = 50

The Chasseur (4th Floor Back) – A Primary Event Space located at the rear of the building that is very appropriate for Presentations and Business Meetings. It has nooks along one side of the room where seating can be placed for break out conversations and for beverage service. There is a built in Projector with a Screen for easy utilization for presentations.

  • Seated with Tables & Chairs = 60
  • Theater Style Seating = 195
  • Cocktail Party = 60

Guittar’s Landing (2nd Floor Front) – A perfect space for either a lounge concept or a Chef’s Table dinner. It features access from Belle Epoch via an open staircase, beautiful arched windows in the front, a tin ceiling and a carved fireplace mantle surrounding the original fire box. It also has easy access to large bathrooms just outside the room.

  • Seated with Tables & Chairs = 45
  • Theater Style Seating = 105
  • Cocktail Party = 45

Lynnhaven (2nd Floor Back) – An event space located at the back of the building featuring unique lighting fixtures, a projector and screen, an intimate & cozy feel to the room. It is a great space for presentations and showing films. It’s also a perfect spot to create a more romantic vibe for a party. Great place for a larger Business meeting or a dinner party with good maneuverability from the catering kitchen to the space.

  • Seated with Tables & Chairs = 55
  • Theater Style Seating = 180
  • Cocktail Party = 55

Belle Epoch (1st Floor) – A flexible space that covers a front room that is perfect for a greeting area and a back area that can be used for a variety of purposes. The front room features a soaring ceiling with elaborate plaster work, and an open staircase that connects it to Guittar’s Landing above. The back of Belle Epoch is very flexible and is accessed through a hallway where guests pass by the 2nd elevator ever installed in DC. It can be staged with Bistro-style seating, or as a standing event. A Quartet can easily tuck to one side of the room, and the back of the room can be used as either coat check or providing beverage service for a Happy Hour or Mixer. For an elegant Cocktail Party, Belle Epoch can be combined with Cocktail Club, which you can peek into from above and access via a spiral staircase.

Belle Epoch Front:

  • Seated with Tables & Chairs = 35
  • Theater Style Seating = 110
  • Cocktail Party = 35

Belle Epoch Back:

  • Seated with Tables & Chairs = 35
  • Theater Style Seating = 110
  • Cocktail Party = 35

Cocktail Club – A subterranean cocktail lounge that is a not so secret as to be called a speakeasy, but has that vibe. It is decorated as an 1890 lounge as a nod to the year that the venue was built. It is the home to our exclusive 90-minute Cocktail Club experience where 16 lucky guests sit at the bar and are taken on a delicious journey through the history and fun of craft cocktails. Around the perimeter of the room is the lounge where craft cocktails are provided A La Carte and a small food menu is offered with Cheese & Charcuterie boards made at the rear of the bar. This space is typically reservation only. However, it can be booked for a private party.

The Taste of DC Demo Kitchen – This spacious, fully equipped industrial demonstration kitchen with necessary equipment is located on our third floor.

  • Seated with Tables & Chairs = 50

For more details or to schedule a site visit:

Find Us Online

Meeting & Event Spaces

  • Max Capacity: 750 guests
  • Largest Theatre Style: 200
  • Largest Auditorium Seating: 170
The Owlstone
Bright, two-floor event space connected by elegant stairway features retail-sized street view window on the first level, and beautiful bay and arched windows on second level.
The Demo Kitchen
Spacious, fully equipped industrial demonstration kitchen and equipment, with room to seat up to 60 people.
Four North
Large, bright, street-facing room on our 4th floor for up to 150 guests.
Four South
Large room on our 4th floor with a view of Ford's Theater, for up to 120 guests.
Six North
Magnificent space on the top floor of the building, filled with natural light and featuring soaring ceilings as well as a tower with original building top exposure, for up to 250 guests.
Six South
Generously sized and light-filled room with high ceilings on the top floor of the building, featuring an overlook of Baptist Alley and Ford's Theater.
The Speakeasy
Cavernous but intimate space in the basement of the building, featuring complete bar equipment, for up to 75 guests. The Speakeasy is the only space on property that is not accessible by elevator.

Featured Amenities

  • Accessible Facilities
  • Bus - Shuttle, Public Bus Access Bus
  • Near Public Transit
  • Paid Parking
  • Running Trails
  • Taxi
  • Theater Seating
  • WiFi

Venue Location + Transportation

Address

 
918 F Street NW,
Washington, District of Columbia 20004

Transportation

  • BusBus
  • MetroMetro
  • TaxiTaxi
  • TrainTrain

Nearby Airport

  • Washington Regan, DCA - 10 minutes

Nearby International Airport

  • Washington Regan, DCA - 10 minutes

Things to Know

Catering

  • Must Use In-house Catering: No
  • External Catering Allowed: Yes

Technology

The National Union Building in downtown Washington, D.C. features a 100MB Fiber internet over complimentary WIFI, a 1080p HD ceiling mounted projector and 120” projector screen. Wireless handheld and cordless mic, LED up lighting, Padded folding chairs, 72”x18” classroom tables, VOIP Polycom conference lines, and restored antique Edison bulb floor and table lamps are also available.

  • Guest Wi-Fi: Free
  • Onsite Tech Support: Yes
  • Equipment Available On-Site:
    • Projector Screen

Venue Policies

  • Alcohol Consumption: Yes
  • Smoking Permitted: no
  • ADA Accessible: Yes

Testimonals

We had our holiday party at the National Union Building and it was fantastic. The building has so much charter. We really enjoyed ourselves and would recommend this venue to anyone.
Deborah Malone, ERM
The National Union Building events team has done it again. We received red carpet treatment from the beginning of the event until the end. Sean managed to be everywhere all at once and offered suggestions to make our event even more special. Our guests were in awe of the event space and we are looking forward to returning for our next event!
Michellay Atieku, Serve DC

Services

Lighting
In-house design of programmable DMX LED uplighting along all brick walls of each space. Art pin spot lighting. Gobo stencil lighting. Complimentary bistro lighting.

Technology

Free Fiber Internet and Wifi
Each floor has Wifi and ethernet LAN providing 100MB, low-latency dedicated fiber connection.
AV Support
1080p ceiling mounted projector, 120" electric projector screen, HDMI. In-house mounted speakers throughout space and amplifer. Wireless mic kit with up to 4 handheld mics available with support services.