ExecEd is lucky to have its home in one of the most striking architectural achievements in South Carolina. The still-new Darla Moore School of Business is a superlatively sustainable place to foster sustainable businesses.
The LEED Platinum building’s open and flexible design makes it an inviting hub for education, business and community engagement.
Something that’s not as well known as it should be is the fact that it isn’t just here to benefit students, faculty and staff. It’s available to the community – to businesses, agencies, nonprofits and other professional organizations with a business focus – as an event venue.
Actually, SEVERAL event venues, each with its own distinct characteristics that lend support to a variety of functions. We have everything from high-tech auditoriums to intimate meeting rooms, open-air courtyards and rooftop spaces with an unparalleled view of the heart of Columbia.
But the focus is always on business. The spaces are not for weddings or other purely social occasions. The idea is to provide South Carolina’s business community with a place to gather for events that help to move our economy forward.
Here are some examples of what is available:
- The Sonoco Pavilion – This is the copper-sheathed focal point of the Moore School, located in the center of the structure, opening onto the spacious courtyard. Accessible from the building’s most-inviting entrance on Greene Street, the Pavilion is our largest space, and a superbly flexible one suitable for a variety of meeting purposes. Under usual circumstances, the Pavilion itself accommodates 120 seats or 170 people standing, but it can be configured to open onto the Charles S. Way Jr. Palmetto Court, allowing for even more room. This space has become known in recent years for the annual Shuck & Shag gathering, at which alumni gather for a traditional oyster roast featuring music and the official state dance.
- Rooftop Pavilions – We have two of these, well configured for a variety of events. Need to make a presentation to several dozen, followed by food service with a great view of downtown? Either of these should work for you. They’re not quite as big as the Sonoco facility, but in non-pandemic times they can welcome groups of 60 to 80 people. Some of our ExecEd classes regularly use these, but they’re available for a variety of business-related functions.
- Various Classroom Spaces – These vary in size and shape, from “flat” rooms such as 329 and 330 to more tiered rooms in more of a stadium-seating configuration. They are used regularly as classrooms, but are easily converted for other purposes.
There is more, from a conference room fully equipped with teleconferencing capability and other state-of-the-art technologies, so you can meet with far more than the eight people in the room, to the Kitchen/Lounge area, which provides a comfortable atmosphere for groups to enjoy informal meetings and working lunches.
We have of course had fewer gatherings since the pandemic started, but we are fully prepared to adjust for events that fully meet current public health guidelines. And with the new vaccines being distributed, we’re looking forward to the time beyond COVID, as we’re sure you and your organization are doing as well.
Contact us to learn more about how to hold your next event at the Moore School. I’ll be happy to help you. Reach me at katie.parler@moore.sc.edu or 803-777-9317
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