THE LAO CENTER · OAKLAND, CA

A warehouse with room to move.

Newly renovated event space with exposed brick, steel beams, and up to 175 seats — plus a lobby gallery and a working café for smaller gatherings. On-site parking for 60 cars.

THREE SPACES, ONE BUILDING

Book the whole floor or just a room.

Each space rents on its own, or combine them for a larger footprint — registration in the lobby, program in the main hall, VIP tasting in the café.

175 GUESTS

The Main Hall

Exposed brick, black steel columns, and natural light from the street-facing wall. Reconfigurable tables and chairs for talks, showcases, dinners, or dancing.

50 GUESTS

Lobby & Gallery

A bright, open corridor lined with a rotating community art wall. Built for mixers, registration, cocktail hours, or as an overflow room.

15 GUESTS

Café 15

Our working café, available for small meetings, tastings, or intimate gatherings — with coffee and catering on hand if you want it.

FLOOR DIRECTORY

240 people, one footprint.

Total capacity across the main hall, lobby, and café — plus a patio that can extend any booking outdoors. Rent one room or combine all three for a full building buyout.

• Main Hall — 175

• Lobby & Gallery — 50

• Café 15 — 15

ON SITE

Built for events, not just meetings.

01 — 60-car parking

Free, on-site parking directly outside the building — no permits, no street hunting for guests.

02 — Outdoor basketball courts

Full courts on site — a built-in activity for team offsites, youth events, or tournament-style programming.

03 — Patio, add-on

Extend your event outdoors. Available for an additional fee — ask us for a quote based on your date and headcount.

04 — Newly renovated

Fresh finishes throughout, with the original brick and steel bones of the building left exposed and intact.

PRICING

Straightforward hourly rates.

One rate for nonprofits, one for for-profit bookings. A small booking & service fee is added at checkout — never hidden.

NONPROFIT RATE

$125 / hour

For registered 501(c)(3) organizations and community groups. ID or documentation may be requested.

FOR-PROFIT RATE

$150 / hour

For companies, private events, and commercial productions.

ESTIMATE YOUR TOTAL

Space: Main Hall, Lobby & Gallery, or Café 15

Organization Type: Nonprofit or For-Profit

Hours Needed: 2-hour minimum booking

Add Patio: custom quote, not included in estimate below

Estimate only — patio access, cleaning, and staffing needs are quoted separately and confirmed in your booking agreement. Use the form below to check availability and get your exact quote.