PAFA - Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Guest capacity
Up to 350 seated guests
About this venue
The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts boasts two unique event spaces: The Historic Landmark Building houses the oldest art school and museum in the Country with world-renowned architecture by Furness & Hewitt. Featuring classic Victorian Gothic details, the ambiance of this memorable space offers unique entertaining locations for intimate and large groups. The Hamilton Building is an expansive turn-of the century car showroom that has found new life, reinvented as a modern gallery space with views of downtown and direct proximity to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The Hamilton Building offers the unique opportunity to dine among our rotating exhibitions.
Our event spaces
Rotunda (Historic Landmark)
Versatile beauty with sunning architecture and historic works of art present a perfect backdrop for your Ceremony or Reception.
With raised ceilings, intricate detailed columns, and dozens of luminous sky lights, this space captures the essence of art history.
Guest capacity
Up to 200 Seated
Up to 350 Standing
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Cocktail hour
Tuttleman (Hamilton Building)
A stunning modern yet elegant space provides the perfect backdrop for cocktail receptions and ceremonies.
Featuring floor to Ceiling windows that provide your guests with sunning views of Broad Street day or night, The Tuttleman Gallery is a sophisticated, yet versatile space fit for every bride's modern-chic vision board.
Guest capacity
Up to 180 Seated
Up to 300 Standing
Guests often feel this space is
“Luxurious and chic”
All Galleries (Hamilton Building)
Put a modern spin on your event: three galleries surround an exposed staircase, creating long sightlines with views overlooking Broad Street.
The Hamilton Building (HAM) is a lovely space from the early 1900s that has been renovated to be very chic and fresh; it has lots of white columns and floor to ceiling windows that overlook Broad Street.
Guest capacity
Up to 200 Seated
Up to 1000 Standing
Annenberg (Hamilton Building)
Dance the night away in this beautiful modern art exhibit.
The perfect space for a reception, the Annenberg Gallery provides an elegant backdrop with ample room for dinner and dancing.
Guest capacity
Up to 350 Seated
Up to 400 Standing
Cast Hall (Historic Landmark)
A one-of-a-kind photo opportunity landscaped with casts of the artworks from ancient Rome and Italy.
Located on the first floor of our Historic Landmark Building, this area is perfect for bridal party photos, Ketubah signings, and many other intimate celebrations.
Guest capacity
Up to 50 Seated
Up to 100 Standing
Square footage
2,500
Gallery Level (Historic Landmark)
The Historic Landmark Building is a stunning piece of American architecture with stone columns, deep navy and reds, with gilded gold finishes.
Built in 1876, PAFA’s Historic Landmark Building is considered one of the finest surviving examples of Victorian Gothic architecture in America. No shortage of breathtaking photo opportunity from the spectacularly ornamented Grand Stairhall to welcome your guests, to galleries with gothic arches and vaulted ceilings to enjoy throughout the evening.
Guest capacity
Up to 150 Seated
Up to 500 Standing
Square footage
6,430
Lenfest Plaza
A charming outdoor event space surrounded by PAFA's architecture; a talking point for all guests.
Located between PAFA's Historic Landmark and Samuel M.V. Hamilton buildings, the plaza was constructed in 2011 and is open year-round. It features a three-part serpentine bench, mosaic pavers, plantings, and rotating works of emerging and established artists in an urban setting.
Guest capacity
Up to 300 Seated
Up to 1000 Standing
Washington Foyer (Historic Landmark)
A timeless, classic, and breathtaking entry for your wedding.
A perfect location for jaw-dropping ceremony photos, surrounded by multiple exhibits to delight and intrigue your guests during cocktail hour.
Guest capacity
Up to 0 Seated
Up to 200 Standing
Rotunda (Historic Landmark)
Versatile beauty with sunning architecture and historic works of art present a perfect backdrop for your Ceremony or Reception.
With raised ceilings, intricate detailed columns, and dozens of luminous sky lights, this space captures the essence of art history.
Guest capacity
Up to 200 Seated
Up to 350 Standing
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Cocktail hour
Tuttleman (Hamilton Building)
A stunning modern yet elegant space provides the perfect backdrop for cocktail receptions and ceremonies.
Featuring floor to Ceiling windows that provide your guests with sunning views of Broad Street day or night, The Tuttleman Gallery is a sophisticated, yet versatile space fit for every bride's modern-chic vision board.
Guest capacity
Up to 180 Seated
Up to 300 Standing
Guests often feel this space is
“Luxurious and chic”
All Galleries (Hamilton Building)
Put a modern spin on your event: three galleries surround an exposed staircase, creating long sightlines with views overlooking Broad Street.
The Hamilton Building (HAM) is a lovely space from the early 1900s that has been renovated to be very chic and fresh; it has lots of white columns and floor to ceiling windows that overlook Broad Street.
Guest capacity
Up to 200 Seated
Up to 1000 Standing
Annenberg (Hamilton Building)
Dance the night away in this beautiful modern art exhibit.
The perfect space for a reception, the Annenberg Gallery provides an elegant backdrop with ample room for dinner and dancing.
Guest capacity
Up to 350 Seated
Up to 400 Standing
Cast Hall (Historic Landmark)
A one-of-a-kind photo opportunity landscaped with casts of the artworks from ancient Rome and Italy.
Located on the first floor of our Historic Landmark Building, this area is perfect for bridal party photos, Ketubah signings, and many other intimate celebrations.
Guest capacity
Up to 50 Seated
Up to 100 Standing
Square footage
2,500
Gallery Level (Historic Landmark)
The Historic Landmark Building is a stunning piece of American architecture with stone columns, deep navy and reds, with gilded gold finishes.
Built in 1876, PAFA’s Historic Landmark Building is considered one of the finest surviving examples of Victorian Gothic architecture in America. No shortage of breathtaking photo opportunity from the spectacularly ornamented Grand Stairhall to welcome your guests, to galleries with gothic arches and vaulted ceilings to enjoy throughout the evening.
Guest capacity
Up to 150 Seated
Up to 500 Standing
Square footage
6,430
Lenfest Plaza
A charming outdoor event space surrounded by PAFA's architecture; a talking point for all guests.
Located between PAFA's Historic Landmark and Samuel M.V. Hamilton buildings, the plaza was constructed in 2011 and is open year-round. It features a three-part serpentine bench, mosaic pavers, plantings, and rotating works of emerging and established artists in an urban setting.
Guest capacity
Up to 300 Seated
Up to 1000 Standing
Washington Foyer (Historic Landmark)
A timeless, classic, and breathtaking entry for your wedding.
A perfect location for jaw-dropping ceremony photos, surrounded by multiple exhibits to delight and intrigue your guests during cocktail hour.
Guest capacity
Up to 0 Seated
Up to 200 Standing
Available services that can be provided by PAFA - Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Services & amenities
- Bar services
- Catering services
- Clean up
- Dressing room / Bridal Suite
- Event rentals
- Event staff
- Liability insurance
- Service staff
- Set up
- Wheelchair accessible
- Wifi
Transportation & access
- Self parking - paid
- Wheelchair accessible
Rentals
- Barware
- Chiavari Chairs
- China
- Flatware
- Glassware
- Linens
- Standard Chairs
Reviews
Write a review5.0 out of 5
1 review
THE Best
As a vendor in the industry, I work in dozens if not hundreds of venues every year. Working with the team at PAFA is always a highlight for us. Their expectation and communication is clear. Their clients love them and in turn you can tell they feel the same. The venue is one of a kind.... truly magical. Their offering, care, attention and heart are all obvious in working with the PAFA team.
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