Hancher Auditorium Rentals: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hancher Auditorium available for rent?
Yes. Hancher has several spaces that may be rented by University of Iowa departments, non-profit organizations, private individuals, and companies.

 

What is the venue programming/booking priority policy?

Hancher Programming Policies

 

What spaces are available for events?
The Stanley Café, Stanley Café Atrium, Strauss Rehearsal Hall, Smith Lobby, Congdon Lobby, Stone Lobby, Production Office, and the Hadley Stage/Auditorium are all available for rent.

 

What are your rental fees?
Rental fees are based on the type of function and which of the following user categories the client is in:
 

	University Department Rates	Non-University Non-Profit Rates	Non-University General Rates
Main Hall	$2,000	$3,000	$4,000
Hadley Stage	$2,000	$3,000	$4,000
Stanley Café*	$1,000	$1,500	$2,500
*Stanley Café Rates are for the period 12 pm – 12 am. Use outside these areas are billed as follows:
	$125/hour	$175/hour	$325/hour
Café Atrium**	$500	$750	$1,250
** Café Atrium Rates are for the period 12 pm – 12 am. Use outside these areas are billed as follows:
	$45/hour	$100/hour	$160/hour
Congdon Lobby***	$500	$750	$1,250
***Congdon Lobby Rates are for the period 12 pm – 12 am. Use outside these areas are billed as follows:
	$45/hour	$100/hour	$160/hour
Smith Lobby****	$750	$1,000	$1,500
****Smith Lobby Rates are for the period 12 pm – 12 am. Use outside these areas are billed as follows:
	$100/hour	$125/hour	$190/hour
Stone Lobby*	$500	$750	$1,250
*Stone Lobby Rates are for the period 12 pm – 12 am. Use outside these areas are billed as follows:
	$45/hour	$100/hour	$160/hour
Production Office**	$250	$500	$750
**Production Office Rates are for the period 12 pm – 12 am. Use outside these areas are billed as follows:
	$25/hour	$45/hour	$100/hour

Additional expenses above the rental fee will include: ushers, the cost of set-up and tear down of equipment, technical staff, cleaning, and an in-house equipment fee that is calculated as a percentage of the labor expense. A good faith estimate can be provided upon request after you provide some details about your event.

 

What type of events can take place in Hancher?
Public lectures, cocktail-style receptions, wedding ceremonies and receptions, retirement parties, birthday parties, meetings, and musical performances are just a few examples of the types of events Hancher can accommodate. Consideration of requests is based upon date availability within the booking priorities.

 

Can I bring in my own food and beverage or my own caterer?
No. Hancher has an exclusive catering agreement with UI Catering to provide all food and beverage service at the venue. This includes alcohol. Additionally, keg beer is not available at Hancher and UI Catering may only serve alcohol for a maximum of 6 hours with service ending half an hour prior to the end of an event.

 

Can I schedule a tour to discuss my event?
Yes. Contact the Director of Operations to schedule your tour.
Mark North: (319) 335-1131; mark-north@uiowa.edu

 

What hours can I hold my event?
The hours during which an event may occur is dependent upon the availability of space and other activities taking place in the building. Generally, for social events the hours are 12 pm – 12 am.

 

What information will you need from me?
The most important information in advance is what kind of event you're planning, whether you plan to serve food and beverages, whether you have AV needs, and how many attendees you expect. While many details can be clarified later, it is important for the Hancher staff to know whether we're helping you plan a meeting or a cocktail reception and whether you expect 10 or 200 people. No one likes surprises on the day of a big event!

 

Additional information

 

The Stanley Café tables are 4’ round tables that seat 6 people. These tables cannot be removed and replaced with different tables.

 

The maximum seating capacity is approximately 220 people.

 

Hancher has a modular dance floor that consists of 64 - 3’ X 3’ sections that can be built in any configuration up to a maximum of 24’ X 24’.