Reserve Rooms

Background image: Partial View from Geography's 5th Floor Balcony

Berkeley Geography has four meeting spaces that may be requested: 145 McCone Hall, 183 McCone Hall, 575 McCone Hall, and McCone Hall's 5th floor balcony. This page provides an overview of policies related to using Berkeley Geography spaces.

Submitting a Rental Request

We process emailed rental requests on a rolling basis. After reviewing our rental policies below, please complete this form.

Please note: We cannot accept reservations more than two months, or less than two weeks, prior to the event date. Event logistics and all paperwork must be finalized one week prior to event date.

Geography affiliated faculty and any student groups are eligible for a 50% fee reduction.

Rental Costs

SpaceCapacity0-4 Hours/DayFull Day
145 McCone Hall 71 $300 $600
183 McCone Hall 15 $100 $200
575 McCone Hall 60 $300 $600
McCone 5th Floor Balcony 35 $200 $400

It is the responsibility of the person(s) organizing the event to set up, clean up, and break down the event held in our space, and to budget time accordingly. Upon request, Berkeley Geography can help request facilities and custodial service from campus at your expense. This is required for any weekend event or any event that ends past 5pm on weekdays that serve food and/or drink ($120 janitorial fee).

Payment Methods and Deposit Policy

Please provide a chart string on the reservation form, which we will use for room charges and charges for any damage to the space or furniture incurred during the event

CONFIRMATION

Reservations are confirmed and guaranteed only upon receipt of all applicable forms and fees. It is not possible to place a “hold” on a room other than by booking it.

Confirmation of all required arrangements and permits must be emailed to the reservations coordinator no fewer than ten business days before the event.

No reservation request is confirmed unless written confirmation is received by applicant from the reservations coordinator.

General Guidelines

  • Reservations must be made no later than two weeks prior to the event date. Requests will not be accepted within two weeks of the event date.
  • Reservations will not be accepted more than two months in advance of the event date.
  • Event organizers must include in their contracted hours of rental sufficient time for setting up and taking down of events.
  • All events must end by 11pm on weeknights or 8pm on weekends, including cleanup. Please note that McCone Hall cannot host overnight events.
  • In case of emergency, UC Police Department can be reached at 911 from a campus landline or (510) 642-3333 from a cell phone.

ENTRY DOORS/ACCESS INFORMATION

  • Entry doors are controlled by central campus; the reservations coordinator will coordinate changes to the building access schedule as needed. For events that take place outside of standard open hours or during a university holiday or break (see the UC Berkeley Academic Calendar), building access must be arranged with the reservations coordinator no later than ten business days in advance of event.
  • No changes can be made once entry access schedule has been confirmed by the reservations coordinator.
  • Access to the rented room will not be permitted until the time for which it is contracted.

SIGNAGE POLICY

  • No signs, banners, posters or decorations may be nailed, tacked or affixed in any way to the interior walls of McCone Hall. Signs may be posted using painter’s tape only. No scotch tape, masking tape, packing tape, etc. is allowed.
  • Banners must be draped on a table or affixed to podium with painter’s tape.
  • Damage to the walls will result in loss of security deposit or charge to chartstring.
  • All interior and exterior signs must be removed at the end of the event.

LESSEE/SPONSORING ORGANIZATION’S RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Users agree to abide by the Rules of Conduct in Campus Buildings.
  • All groups are responsible for returning the facility to its normal condition at the conclusion of the event. All waste must be in waste bins. 
  • Event organizers must include in their contracted hours of rental sufficient time for setting up and taking down of events.
  • Users are responsible for making sure all trash is deposited in the waste containers, and all equipment and supplies from your event are removed.
  • The janitorial fee of $120 covers drop-off and pickup of extra trash bins, emptying all trash bins, and spot-cleaning. 
  • The sponsoring organization is financially responsible for any damage to the building, equipment, and/or furnishings caused by persons attending the event.
  • Fire, including candles of any size, is not allowed in McCone Hall.

Permits

LIABILITY

The sponsoring organization renting the facility is responsible for:

  • Any damage to the building, equipment, and/or furnishings caused by persons attending the event.
  • Enforcing UC Berkeley alcohol guidelines and smoke-free policy.
  • Restoring the facilities to their original state after the event.

DISCLAIMERS

  • The Geography Department is not responsible for items left on premises by the lessee or guests. All goods and/or equipment must be removed from the premises immediately following the conclusion of the event.
  • The Geography Department reserves the right to refuse future rentals to organizations that do not comply with these policies.
  • The Geography Department does not provide room setup, AV/IT, posters, nametags, registration, website development, catering, or other event services. These are fully the responsibility of the event planner(s).
  • Exceptions to any of these policies are not valid unless approved in writing by the reservations coordinator.
  • All reservations are subject to cancellation by the reservations coordinator.