SITE: Contemporary Arts Center
ADDRESS: 900 Camp St., New Orleans, LA 70130
PHONE: 504/528-3805
WEB SITE: www.cacno.org
VISUALS & VIBE: Located in a converted 1905 warehouse, this multi-purpose venue offers a total of 50,000 square feet, suitable for everything from upscale dinners to interactive media presentations.
EVENT AREAS: The 30,000-square-foot main facility features four galleries, two theaters, meeting rooms and an atrium.
SPECIAL SPACE: With 20,000 square feet of event area and a 28-foot ceiling, the venue's raw warehouse space can accommodate seated dinners for 800, presentations for 1,000 and cocktail receptions for 3,000.
RAW BUT RESOURCEFUL: Creature comforts include ample power, in-house HVAC, T1 Internet connectivity, dressing room facilities for 20 and an on-site kitchen prep area.
WHO'S HERE: Microsoft, Samsung, NFL Players Association, UPN.
“The Contemporary Arts Center is a leading pioneer in utilizing computer technology to enhance large-scale corporate events. Highly stylized, site-specific media projections and display, custom thematic and branding media, live multiple sources of video and live camera images transform this space into a unique and creative media installation that breathes life into any event.”
— Neil Fuselier, director of production
SITE: Culy Trucking Warehouse
ADDRESS: 335 Sixth Ave., San Diego, CA 92109
PHONE: 619/338-0526, 619/246-0540
VISUALS & VIBE: Two connected warehouse units combine to provide almost 10,000 square feet of blank-slate event space featuring open-beam ceilings and cement floors and walls.
EVENT AREAS: The 5,000-square-foot Jack Dodge and the 3,500-square-foot Culy make up the Culy Trucking Warehouse complex, with a combined standing capacity of 1,300.
SPECIAL SPACE: The Jack Dodge portion features 16-foot ceilings, plus four tall wood-and-glass front doors that can be thrown open for a dramatic entrance effect.
RAW BUT RESOURCEFUL: The facility includes easily accessible load-in ramps, caterer's kitchen, ice machine, dishwasher and high-concept guest restrooms featuring sleek steel sinks.
WHO'S HERE: San Diego Magazine, Disney, Fox Studios, Cadillac.
“The beautiful thing is that it's a blank slate, but it's not a warehouse that's so rough that you have to do a lot of dressing up. We've done a ‘barefoot bar and beach club’ there. We have also done terrific Harley parties in there [with] peanut shells on the floor and an arm-wrestling station. We did an event for an automotive client during the Super Bowl, and we got to drive cars in and do decor around them. It's very user-friendly.”
— Tracey Brenneman, senior sales manager, PRA Destination Management, San Diego
SITE: Club Clearview
ADDRESS: 2803 Main St., Dallas, TX 75226
PHONE: 214/939-0224
WEB SITE: www.clubclearview.com
VISUALS & VIBE: This 1925 dry goods store turned 1950s transmission shop turned 1985 art warehouse now features nearly 25,000 square feet of event space, including a roof deck overlooking the downtown Dallas skyline.
EVENT AREAS: 10,000-square-foot main club space, 3,000-square-foot roof deck, tentable 10,000-square-foot outdoor area.
SPECIAL SPACE: The venue's 1,500-guest-capacity interior includes four rooms with distinct environments and 16-foot ceilings.
RAW BUT RESOURCEFUL: Need power, hot water, Internet connectivity, kitchen facilities and parking for your event? Club Clearview has them all.
WHO'S HERE: Bacardi product launch, Travelocity.com launch, Walker Texas Ranger cast party.
“Clearview's strengths are its flexibility and resources. It provides a variety of resources for presentations, from a stage for a speaker to television for video to DSL hookup for online presentations. The club has 18 years of event experience and contacts to assist in any requirements from crystal glassware to a sword-swallower.”
— Jeffrey Yarbrough, president