Facilities & Rooms

Rental facilities include meeting rooms, the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, Video Theater, and of course, the Winter Garden. Contact the Events Department to plan an event.

Winter Garden
Capacity: 400 Seated Dinner and/or Reception, 500 Theater Style
The Winter Garden is the architectural centerpiece of the Harold Washington Library Center. Located on the ninth floor, this elegant and spacious atrium features a terrazzo and marble floor and a 52-foot glass paneled dome that spans the entire room. The Winter Garden is the perfect setting for a wedding reception, corporate event, fundraiser, gala dinner, silent auction or fashion show – wherever your imagination takes you!

South Hall
Capacity: 200 Seated, Reception or Theater Style
Located on the ninth floor and adjacent to the Winter Garden, this bright and airy room features floor-to-ceiling windows and is ideal for an intimate reception, luncheon or corporate event. The South Hall is primarily available only with rental of the Winter Garden or Cindy Pritzker Auditorium.

Grand Lobby
Capacity: 650 Reception
The Grand Lobby is an ideal setting for an elegant reception. Located on the first floor and available only after library hours for stand-up receptions, the Grand Lobby features marble floors and an intricately designed ceiling. A colorful mosaic by artist Jacob Lawrence and a view of the Houston Conwill cosmogram on the lower level round out this grand setting.

Reception Hall - Lower Level
Capacity: 170 Reception
The Reception Hall is located across from the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium on the lower level and is ideally suited for elegant VIP receptions of 170 or less. The Reception Hall is an intimate space with brightly painted floating walls, high ceilings with track lighting and hardwood floors, and is available on a limited basis.

Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
Capacity: 385-seat theater
The Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, located on the lower level, is the perfect backdrop for a dance or music performance, literary program or corporate meeting. Paneled in African mahogany and featuring a 30’ x 30’ stage plus additional wing space, the 385-seat theater provides superb sight lines, excellent sound reinforcement and theatrical lighting.

A Steinway concert grand piano, two dressing rooms and a Green Room, both featuring an intercom system, are available for use with the rental of the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium. Also available for use is a podium with microphone, general wash lighting and additional lighting instruments. The client must provide all technical staff required to produce a program including, but not limited to, sound, lighting, stage manager and stage crew. Additional fees may apply for services and/or equipment.

Video Theater
Capacity: 63 Seated
Adjacent to the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, the Video Theater provides an ideal location for a corporate meeting, forum or lecture. The 63-seat theater is equipped with large rear-screen projection for slide, video, DVD and computer presentations.

Complex Lobby
Capacity: Guest Registration Only
The Complex Lobby, with marble and white mosaic walls, is the guest registration area for Cindy Pritzker Auditorium events and is provided complimentary when used with the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium.

Multi-Purpose Rooms
Capacity: Room A: 50 Seated, 50 Theater Style; Room B: 80 Seated, 130 Theater Style; Room A&B: 120 Seated, 200 Theater Style
Steps away from the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium and Video Theater, the Multi-Purpose Rooms can accommodate 25 to 200 people and are perfect for lectures, weekday luncheons, conferences, and meetings. The Multi-Purpose Rooms are the ideal venue to use in conjunction with the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium and Video Theater. Room features include Internet connection capability; however, additional fees may apply for services and/or equipment.

Meeting Rooms
Capacity: Small: 25 Seated; Large: 40 Seated; *Chicago Authors Rooms: 55 Seated
Located throughout the library, the Meeting Rooms can accommodate small meetings and are only available during library hours. Food and beverages are not allowed, and no equipment is provided.
* Limited availability for rental.

Study Rooms
Rooms are available for group study at the Harold Washington Library Center on floors four, five, six, seven and eight.