Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium Est. 1934

Andrew W Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington D.C., DC, United States

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Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium
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Produce your own harvest of memories at the Mellon, ripe and ready for event season.
Dramatic roman doric columns, limestone walls, marble floors inlaid with gold and wood-paneled walls are the delicate details desirous for any fabulous festive occasion.
The Lowdown
Type
Ballroom
Banquet Hall / Event Facility
Historic Building
Views
Cityscape
Historical Monument
Style
Classic
Elegant
Sophisticated
Worldly
BEST type of CELEBRATIONS
Birthday Party
Charity Event
Corporate Event
Dinner Party
Family Reunion
Holiday Party
Social Event
Wedding Ceremony
Wedding Reception

Venue Setting

Designed by San Francisco architect Arthur Brown, Jr., and erected between 1932- 1934, the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium serves as the central focus of his tripartite building group. Like other buildings in the Federal Triangle, Brown’s trio of buildings is constructed of steel frames clad in Indiana limestone. Red terra-cotta tiles clad the roof of the seven-story auditorium building. Colonnades resting on arched portals connect the temple-form auditorium to symmetrically flanking buildings occupied by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), Department of Labor, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encompassing nearly six acres and extending 1,000 feet along Constitution Avenue. However, in contrast to the horizontality of the adjacent office buildings, the Auditorium has a strong vertical emphasis. This verticality is countered by a classical, tripartite division of the facade consisting of a 2-story rusticated base, a mid-section of 3 stories, and an attic consisting of a monumental cornice and pediment.

Formerly known as The Departmental Auditorium, The Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium faces Constitution Avenue and is entered through three doorways in deeply channeled Indiana limestone above Deere Island pink granite. Granite stairs rise to the main doors. All three arched entrances stand 20-feet tall with gates of gilded and burnished aluminum, topped with spearheads and tassels. Framing the entrances are four 10-foot-high bracket lamps with supporting foliated volutes and a pineapple finial of gilded and burnished aluminum with an oxidized finish.

Six colossal fluted Roman Doric columns rise 62 feet 6 inches above the base to create the auditorium’s portico. The columns are matched by fluted Doric pilasters set against the smooth limestone back wall. This exterior elevation is embellished with Beaux Arts sculpture, including an allegorical pediment group, figural keystones, metopes in 26 designs and bas-relief panels displaying Edgar Walter’s richly carved “Columbia,” symbolizing the country, national defense, and national resources.

The grandeur of the building’s exterior is matched by its interior. Limestone-finished walls and piers define the space and frame views of the east and west staircases, the lobby, and the breathtaking auditorium beyond. The lobby’s marble floor is laid in rectilinear patterns of gold, pink, and dark red marble. At the heart of the building is the spectacular auditorium standing more than 60 feet in height and embellished with limestone pilasters, gilded relief carvings, and polished oak. Colossal luminaries, made of brass and burnished aluminum, are suspended from the ceiling. Fluted Doric columns surround the room consisting of crushed clam shell and serving as acoustical stone. Also constructed of crushed clam shell are the auditorium walls with the lower portions pierced only by doors and vents with ornamental grilles. Such detailed construction practices helped to make the Mellon Auditorium an acoustical marvel considering it’s grand size and scale.

GSA modernized the auditorium in 2002-03. The project restored exterior stonework and key interior spaces such as the three smaller break-out rooms where the deep green glaze and gold leaf accents of the wood-paneled walls were restored to their original appearance.

Fees
(Prices listed here are estimates only & are subject to change)
Price Range

Does this include catering fees?

No

Additional Charges

Pricing includes venue, security and support cost. When venue is booked client will work with approved vendors to bring in catering, lighting, production, and decor.

Insurance

Additional Insurance Is Required To Host An Event At This Venue

Capacity

Seated
650
Buffet
650
Standing
1000
Celebrations Hosted Here Since
1934
Curfew
2 AM
Venue Spaces
Indoor & Outdoor Venue Spaces Available
Catering
Client Must Select A Caterer From The List Provided By The Venue
Alcohol
Licensed Server Is Required
Music
Indoors & Outdoors
Smoking
Non-smoking Venue
Accommodations
We have one private lounge space in the basement, available at additional cost.
Eco/Green Events
Yes
Kid Friendly Events
Yes
Handicap Accessible
Yes
Inside Scoop

The Andrew Mellon Auditorium stands, without question, among the very finest classical buildings in America. The gilded auditorium and lobbies are among the nation's most magnificent interiors. The building is a testament to the remarkable talent of its architect and deserving of an exalted position as a masterpiece of American architecture. With its stunning columns and classic styling, over 10,000 square feet of indoor space, and a gorgeous balcony with impressive views of the city, the Andrew Mellon Auditorium is a premier location for conferences, galas and receptions. The marble lobby welcomes guests into the majestic building with space for registration, drinks and coat check. Inside the ballroom, anywhere from 150 to 630 guests can fit comfortably for a seated dinner and program, or up to 1,000 guests can mingle for a standing reception. Our 3rd floor exterior balcony is a private getaway for VIP’s or guests who want to take in the views of the Washington Monument, Constitution Avenue museums and the Capitol Building. And, the Green Rooms are ideal for an upscale cocktail reception, press area or break out rooms.

Amenities
  • Onsite Restrooms
Venue Features
The Scene:
We are located in the heart of the Nations Capital, just a block from the National Mall.
Design:
The Andrew Mellon Auditorium stands, without question, among the very finest classical buildings in America. The gilded auditorium and lobbies are among the nation's most magnificent interiors. The building is a testament to the remarkable talent of its architect and deserving of an exalted position as a masterpiece of American architecture. With its stunning columns and classic styling, over 10,000 square feet of indoor space, and a gorgeous balcony with impressive views of the city, the Andrew Mellon Auditorium is a premier location for conferences, galas and receptions. The marble lobby welcomes guests into the majestic building with space for registration, drinks and coat check. Inside the ballroom, anywhere from 150 to 630 guests can fit comfortably for a seated dinner and program, or up to 1,000 guests can mingle for a standing reception. Our 3rd floor exterior balcony is a private getaway for VIP’s or guests who want to take in the views of the Washington Monument, Constitution Avenue museums and the Capitol Building. And, the Green Rooms are ideal for an upscale cocktail reception, press area or break out rooms.

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