Shedd Aquarium
Event Types Welcomed
Unique Venue Feature
Shedd Aquarium offers the aquatic world as a backdrop to your special event. When you book an event, guests are offered access to the entire aquarium, from archerfish to zebra sharks. From stunning views of the Chicago skyline to world-class cuisine, guests are surrounded by the beauty and wonder of aquatic life at Shedd Aquarium.
About
Encounter incredible animals from the world’s oceans, rivers, reefs, islands, lakes and wetlands at Chicago’s premiere event venue. Located right on Lake Michigan and offering a gorgeous view of the Chicago skyline, Shedd Aquarium is a National Historic Landmark and is home to award-winning interactive exhibits that take you to sunny Philippines reefs, the Amazon’s flooded forests, the vast Great Lakes and other worlds thriving with aquatic life.
Shedd Aquarium will bring the event of your dreams to life. Our hands-on approach provides customized event designs and world-class food and beverage options, creating memorable moments for guests down to the last detail.
Meeting & Event Spaces
Caribbean Reef and Aquarium Galleries
Classical Greek architecture and our signature Caribbean Reef exhibit create a setting fit for King Neptune, with seating around our 90,000-gallon reef habitat or in the aquarium’s elegantly vaulted galleries. Reception 1200 | Seated 680
Abbott Oceanarium
Begin the evening with a cocktail reception overlooking an authentic re-creation of a Pacific Northwest coastline. Guests can stroll down to the water’s edge to visit Pacific white-sided dolphins, beluga whales, sea otters and many other aquatic animals. Reception 1000 | Seated 500
Rice Foundation Amphitheater
Used along with the Abbott Oceanarium, this space features seating for up to 1,000 guests and a state-of-the-art sound system. It’s perfect for a special welcome or presentation for your corporate event.
Kovler Hall
This large, soaring space, featuring Classic Greek architecture enlivened with handcrafted sea life in bronze and terra-cotta, is perfect for dining and dancing. Reception 300 | Seated 160
Lakefront Terrace
Stunning views of the lakefront and skyline with a gentle waterfall and wildflower garden, for a more casual gathering that showcases the beauty of Chicago. Reception 280 | Seated 150
North Terrace
This seasonal space offers a sweeping vista of the lakefront and skyline along with amenities like a full canopy and bar—perfect for a cocktail reception. Reception 280 | Seated 120
Bubble Net
Overlooking Lake Michigan’s shore, this indoor venue is available for evening events, giving guests a dazzling view of Chicago’s lit-up skyline. Bubble Net is perfect for lively cocktail receptions or elegant plated dinners for groups of fewer than 100 guests. Reception 249 | Seated 249
Phelps Auditorium
Featuring state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, this space can be tailored to your specified needs, from meetings, lectures, awards programs, or multimedia presentations.
Soundings
A window-lined space overlooking Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, perfect for corporate dinner parties or large receptions. Reception 200 | Seated 150
Featured Amenities
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Accessible Facilities -
Bus -
Eco-Friendly -
In-House Catering -
Near Public Transit -
Paid Parking -
Rooftop Space -
Taxi -
Theater Seating -
WiFi
Venue Location + Transportation
Address
1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr,
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Transportation
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Bus -
Lyft -
Metro -
Taxi -
Train -
Uber
Nearby Airport
- O'Hare Airport - 30 minutes
Parking
- Onsite Parking: No
- Car Charging Stations: No
Nearby Cities
Oak Park, Skokie, Evanston, Niles, Park Ridge
Things to Know
Catering
- 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?: No
Technology
- Guest Wi-Fi: Free
- Onsite Tech Support: Yes
- Wi-Fi in meeting space: Yes
- Equipment Available On-Site:
- Projector Screen
- Microphones
- Sound System
Venue Policies
- Alcohol Consumption: Yes
- Smoking Permitted: no
- Cannabis Industry-Friendly: No
- Cannabis Consumption: No
- Eco Friendly: Yes
- ADA Accessible: Yes
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
Testimonals
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Shedd Aquarium
We Connect Unique People With Unique Spaces
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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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