Iowa State University Event Services - Ames, IA | Unique Venues In Iowa For Events
Iowa State University

Iowa State University

Event Types Welcomed

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

About

Iowa State University…BRING YOUR EVENT and leave your stress at home!

Centrally located in the heartland of Ames, Iowa, Iowa State University boasts one of the world’s most beautiful campuses and one-of-a kind indoor and outdoor venues for any corporate or social event under the sun. The easy to navigate, completely walkable campus offers the safety of a small town with the amenities of a big city and has venues that can accommodate groups of up to 10,000 people. 1,4000 rooms are available year-round, with 6,500 resident hall rooms available for summer events and many auditoriums and meeting spaces that are ideal for corporate events and meetings.

For those planning larger scale events, Iowa State University has a plethora of spaces that can fit larger capacities. Fisher Theater, for example, is a 451-seat theater that is great for performances is an intimate setting. Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center has seating available for 835 and contains both a large atrium with a capacity of 550 individuals, four meeting rooms, and a board room. The 33,000 square foot arena is a wonderful setting for political rallies, agricultural events, or large social events such as concerts. Hilton Coliseum, with 14,5000 flexible seats for guests and 30,000 square feet of space, is a great setting for conventions, meetings, and exhibits.

The ISU Alumni Center is perfect for higher end meetings as it boasts 34,500 square feet of space and contains two ballrooms, meeting space, and reception areas for guests. ISU Memorial Union similarly has a plethora of event space onsite. The venue contains 22 meeting rooms and has luxurious ballrooms onsite that accommodate up to 650 guests. ISU Memorial Union also features catering and banquet services in-house that is provided by culinary professionals with a vested interest in providing top-quality service. Planning outdoor events is simple at Iowa State University, as Reiman Gardens offers guests a beautiful, green space that is ideal for weddings, social events, and corporate retreats. The venue is the largest public garden in Iowa, contains a 14-acre complex and offers affordable pricing for events of any size.

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Meeting & Event Spaces

  • Max Capacity: 14900 guests
  • Largest Classroom Style: 1300
  • Largest Theatre Style: 2700
  • Largest Auditorium Seating: 450
  • Largest Arena Seating: 14500
  • Academic Year Largest Group: yes
Auditoriums
Iowa State University auditoriums provide tiered seating, so every seat has the perfect view! Auditoriums are equipped with smart technology, and onsite technical assistance if needed. Auditoriums with year-round availability range in capacity up to 450 attendees.
  • Varies Sq. Ft.
Board Rooms
Comfortable executive boardrooms, with available flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and additional audio-visual tools to guarantee a productive and successful meeting. 
  • Varies Sq. Ft.
Classroom-style rooms (Fixed Seating)
Located in our academic buildings, these rooms accommodate up to 100 attendees, are equipped with smart technology, and desks are not moveable, perfect for training and lecture formats. 
  • Varies Sq. Ft.
Classroom-style rooms (Moveable Seating)
Located in our academic buildings, accommodate up to 100 attendees, are equipped with smart technology and can be reconfigured to meet a variety of sets to match the instruction style of the presenter-whether group discussions, lecture or collaborative projects. 
Conference Rooms
Located in one of our various conference and event buildings, these spaces are configured based on your needs, and rental includes in house tables and chairs-a variety of sizes and dimensions are available.  
Stephens Auditorium
Stephens Auditorium, recognized as the Building of the Century for its unique design and amazing acoustics, makes an impact. This striking environment is home to a 2,747 seat auditorium, making it ideal for lectures, awards ceremonies, and performances.
Hilton Coliseum
A world-class facility with 30,000 square feet (20,000 on the floor and 10,000 on the concourse) of pillar-free space and more than 14,500 seats, Hilton Coliseum is the perfect venue for large-scale meetings, speeches, banquets and trade shows. 
  • 30,000 Sq. Ft.
Fisher Theater
No member of the audience is further than 13 rows from the presentation in this uniquely-designed theater. At 451 seats, it is the perfect setting for intimate performances or lectures. 
  • 451 Theatre Style
Hansen Agriculture Center
Features a sleek and bright industrial-style atrium that can host up to 550 for a standing reception. The atrium leads to a versatile, heated arena that has fixed seating for 1000 and has been home to livestock judging and skills competitions, short courses, training sessions, as well as concerts, formal dinners, and Expo Shows. 
Outdoor Spaces
With 36,000 students on campus, we have plenty of space to spread out. Our state of the art sporting facilities, and gracious green spaces will allow you to host events at all levels-whether it be team building activities, a campground for 20,000 cyclists or sporting events.
  • Varies Sq. Ft.

Food & Beverage Options

Seasons & Union Drive Marketplace
Never worry about dining preferences again! For those staying on campus on a meal plan, the options are unlimited. With fresh food and menus that change daily, we have just what you are hungry for! 
Campus Cafés
For those without a meal plan or not attending a catered event - no need to leave campus! With all of our bakery items, sandwiches, salads and wraps made fresh every day, and over 18 places to try-you are never far from a good nosh! 

Catering options

In House Catering
Selecting a caterer couldnt be easier!  Several of our conference sites feature in house caterers, so your culinary team is just steps away.  They offer diverse menus from tailgates to formal dinners, and are happy to tailor your menu to meet your needs!
Choose your Own Caterer:
 With a long list of approved caterers available to you, a variety of our venues offer the flexibility to choose one that fits your needs and budget.  Tell us what you are looking for-barbeque, asian-fusion, tex-mex, or sandwiches to go!

Accommodations

  • Total Number of Overnight Guests: 10000
  • Number of Overnight Rooms: 10000
Overnight Room Attributes
  • Air-conditioned rooms available
  • Linens Provided
  • Kitchen Available
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

 

Residence Hall: Traditional
Traditional residence halls are typically double-occupancy rooms featuring beds, dresser, and desks, and communal bath facilities, offering both air conditioned and non-air conditioned options.
  • 5000 Beds
Residence Hall: Suite Style
This option offers suite-style living where single or double occupancy rooms are connected by a common bathroom. Study spacies, laundry on each floor and a welcoming common area on the main floor provide plenty of places for guests to connect and visit.
  • 1000 Beds
OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
Ames has a great selection of hotels, including your favorite brands. 1,600 guest rooms are available within a five minute drive from conference and event facilities. With a range of hotel amenities, there is something to fit any budget. We will partner with the Ames Convention and Visitors’ Bureau to get you the right mix for your event!
  • 1600 Rooms

Featured Amenities

  • Accessible Facilities
  • Air Conditioning Air Conditioning
  • Bus - Shuttle, Public Bus Access Bus
  • Fitness Center Fitness Center
  • Linens
  • Near Public Transit
  • Overnight Rooms
  • Paid Parking
  • Running Trails
  • Taxi
  • Theater Seating
  • WiFi

Venue Location + Transportation

Address

 
Conference Planning & Management,
1601 Golden Aspen Dr. #110,
Ames, Iowa 50010

Transportation

  • BusBus
  • TaxiTaxi
  • UberUber

Nearby Airport

  • Des Moines - 35 minutes

Nearby International Airport

  • Des Moines International Airport - 35 minutes

Parking

  • Onsite Parking: Yes

Nearby Cities

Des Moines – 35 | Omaha -164 | Minneapolis – 216 | Kansas City – 228 | Chicago – 358

Things to Know

Catering

  • External Catering Allowed: Yes
  • Cultural Catering Available: Yes

Technology

Iowa State University in Ames is a wireless campus with easy access computer labs; two-way videoconferencing capability; regular & wireless Internet access. Onsite A/V and technical expertise for all services and facilities. We can offer additional assistance with online registration, website development and e-business tools. Ranked as one of the “most wired” campuses in the U.S.

  • 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