The Tech Museum of Innovation
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201 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Contact: Maureen Lynott
Phone: 408/795-6221
www.thetech.org
Request a proposal for your event from The Tech Museum of Innovation
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Description
All you people who yawn at the prospect of going to a museum listen up: The Tech is not just a museum, it’s an adventure. In fact, The Tech may be the most exciting thing to happen to the South Bay in years.
Located in downtown San Jose, facing Plaza de Cesar Chavez and just across from the Fairmont Hotel, this bright mango building houses 300 high-tech interactive exhibits that will energize the most jaded visitor. And wonder of wonders!—if you host an event here, the exhibits are available for your guests’ enjoyment.
Events are held in the museum lobby, the four major exhibit galleries, and the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater. You can reserve any combination of spaces or rent the entire museum. The lobby is a fantastic place for a large party. It’s a three-level atrium with a 45-foot cylindrical tower rising up through it and, when used in conjunction with the adjacent New Venture Hall, it can accommodate 500 for a sit-down dinner.
The galleries lend themselves to standing receptions. They’re thoroughly modern, displaying a mix of steel, glass and plastic, with walls and ceilings painted in jewel shades of purple, yellow and blue. Each gallery has a different theme. Innovation: Silicon Valley and Beyond focuses on the story of Silicon Valley, and the people and inventions that made it famous. Have you ever wanted to know how they make silicon chips? In here you can take an air shower, put on a bunnysuit and watch grains of sand become polished silicon wafers. Life Tech: The Human Machine shows us how technologies save lives and enhance human performance. Take a tour of a virtual hospital operating room or ultrasound yourself and watch an image of your bones wiggling on a monitor. Exploration: New Frontiers gives you the opportunity to go places you’ve only been able to imagine. Here you can shake in an earthquake, explore under the sea and fly over the surface of Mars. And in NetPl@net, you’ll be inspired to use the internet in different ways. Try your strength in a virtual Arm Wrestle against museum visitors in New York or Alaska. Create your own character and chat online in a 3D world or tour the globe with worldwide webcams.
In addition to these extraordinary galleries, The Tech has one more cutting-edge gem that will dazzle you and your guests: the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater. The only one of its kind in Northern California, it features a giant hemispherical screen whose image dwarfs that of a conventional theater and puts the audience in the center of the action. Outfitted with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, the theater can be reserved exclusively for a performance or presentation, but we recommend you also use it for viewing an IMAX film. Experience rafting down the world’s deadliest river, traveling to the Red Planet, a spellbinding climb up sheer vertical walls to the summit of Everest or the adventure, drama and emotion of some of your favorite Hollywood movies.
The Tech aims to inspire the innovator in everyone; yet, even if you don’t come away wanting to be a scientist when you grow up, you’ll have to admit that this place makes traditional meeting rooms and party themes feel obsolete. Part of the next generation of museums, The Tech triumphs at making science, math and technology not only accessible, but positively fun.
Capacity
Ceremony |
Reception/Special Events |
Meetings |
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Max. Seated Indoors: Max. Seated Outdoors: |
Max. Seated Indoors: 500 Max. Seated Outdoors: Max. Standing Indoors: 2500 Max. Standing Outdoors: |
Max. Seated: 400 |
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Fees & Deposits
50% of the rental fee is the deposit required to secure your date, along with a $1,000–2,500 security/cleaning deposit. The rental fee ranges $500–12,500 depending on the space(s) used. Exclusive use of the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater can be arranged at an additional cost. Fees are based on a 4-hour time period. An additional 30% per hour will be charged after the first 4 hours. Meals start at $20/person. Tax, alcohol and service charge are additional.
Availability
Year-round, daily, 6pm–midnight. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Day and New Year’s Eve.
CateringProvidedSelect From List AlcoholProvidedSites UsesWedding ReceptionsSpecial Events, Parties Business Functions/Meetings Rehearsal Dinners Services/AmenitiesCatering: provided, or select from listKitchen Facilities: prep only Tables & Chairs: BYO or through caterer Linens, Silver, etc.: through caterer Restrooms: wheelchair accessible Dance Floor: CBA Meeting Equipment: CBA, extra charge Parking: Convention Center garage, nearby lots Accommodations: no guestrooms Telephone: pay phone Outdoor Night Lighting: no Outdoor Cooking Facilities: no Cleanup: through caterer View: no Other: on-site coordinator |
MusicIndoorsWheelchair AccessWheelchair AccessibleSite ViewsNo ViewSite TypeMuseumBanquet/Events Facility RestrictionsAlcohol: providedSmoking: outdoors only Music: amplified OK Wheelchair Access: yes Insurance: certificate required |
Wondering what CBA or BYO means?
408/795-6221
www.thetech.org
Email or request a proposal for your event from The Tech Museum of Innovation
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