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Cornell University

Conference and Event Services

Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room and Terrace

Banquet tables with tablecloths set for an event in a large room with banners hanging along the walls and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling
Wedding reception in the Memorial Room of Willard Straight Hall.

A veritable ballroom that is reserved for many functions, from arts and crafts fairs to fashion shows, to wedding receptions or ceremonies. Look over your head in this room. You will see the names of Cornell presidents carved in stone just below the ceiling. And, as you look up at the ceiling, you will realize that the ends of each wood beam contain the caricature of some of Willard Straight’s most “beloved” professors. Directly adjacent to the Memorial Room is the Ivy Terrace, boasting a magnificent view of downtown Ithaca and Cayuga Lake.

Location

136 Ho Plaza, Ithaca, NY 14853

The full capacity of the Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room is 300 guests for standing only. The capacity for banquet seating is 168 guests.

Rental Fee

The 2022 rental fee is $2,000 per half-day (2:00pm-11:00pm) or $3,000 per full day (9:00am-11:00pm) for the Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room and Terrace. There are additional charges for any staffing, catering, or rentals. Conference & Event Services will work with you on the specifics for your event to provide a full quote.

History

As one of the first college unions in the United States, this Gothic structure was modeled after Hart House at the University of Toronto and bears the name of a Cornell alumnus whose wife was instructed to use his money "...to make Cornell a more human place." Willard Straight Hall is a vibrant and well-loved student union, considered to be the central spoke of Cornell's wide-reaching campus activities.