Event Spaces
Nature Exploration Center
11 West Jones Street | Downtown Raleigh
First Floor
Celebrate with family and friends surrounded by exhibits of North Carolina's coastal habitats, live aquariums and detailed dioramas. Glass cases display native flora and fauna. The WRAL 3D Theater can be added for an additional fee.
Seated: 220
Reception: 400
WRAL 3D Theater (add-on): 250
Availability: 6pm – 10pm
Second Floor
Enjoy cocktail hour with a view of a two-story waterfall showcasing North Carolina's natural habitats. This floor also features the Underground North Carolina exhibit, which displays naturally occurring gemstones and the continent's largest cut emerald. Add on a private viewing of our current special exhibition.
Seated: 120
Reception: 300
Special Exhibition Hall (add-on): 200 for a seated reception, 400 for a standing reception
Availability: 6pm – 10pm
Third Floor
Travel back in time to Prehistoric North Carolina and dance under the dinosaurs in Terror of the South. Take a walk through the Mountain Cove to learn about North Carolina’s most elusive creatures and see if you can spot them all.
Seated: 200
Reception: 350
Availability: 6pm – 10pm
Fourth Floor (Add-On Only)
Acro Café provides a distinctive dining setting beneath the starlit sky, set amidst the vibrant ambiance of the Living Conservatory. This special space showcases live plants, butterflies and a two-toed sloth within a recreated dry tropical forest.
Seated: 75
Reception: 120
Availability: 6pm – 9pm
Fifth Floor: Boardroom & Bicentennial Terrace
Raleigh spreads out beneath you as you stand on the Bicentennial Terrace. Rooftop views of the State Legislative Building and State Capitol lend an elegant tone. It’s a great daytime meeting space for groups of up to eighteen guests.
Seated: 18
Availability: 9am – 5pm
Nature Research Center
121 West Jones Street | Downtown Raleigh
First Floor
The SECU Daily Planet Theater's screen spans all three floors of the Nature Research Center. Additional displays feature Stumpy, the Right Whale, and an 8,000-gallon aquarium with native fish species. Enhance your event by adding the Dueling Dinosaurs VIP Experience. Our paleontologists will guide your guests on an exclusive tour, revealing the mysteries of these fossils and their scientific significance.
Seated: 200
Reception: 300
Availability: 6pm – 10pm
Second Floor
Discover the rich biodiversity on Earth by exploring where new species are discovered and understand the significance of preserving the wide array that inhabits our planet. Learn about the tools meteorologists utilize to forecast upcoming weather patterns.
Seated: 60
Reception: 200
Availability: 6pm – 10pm
Third Floor
Explore ancient life from different periods like the Ediacaran, Triassic and Ice Age to understand Earth's history. Touch a meteorite. See fragments from Mars and remnants of the Chelyabinsk meteorite that fell in Russia in 2013.
Seated: 40
Reception: 200
Availability: 6pm – 10pm
Fourth Floor
The William G. Ross Jr., Environmental Conference Center offers a versatile setting ideal for daytime events from professional conferences to elegant luncheons. Clients have the option of choosing between using the whole space or breaking it into three smaller rooms with audiovisual equipment included in the price. Adjacent is the naturally lit vestibule, perfect for wedding ceremonies or networking mixers. Enjoy cocktails and conversation while taking in the stunning views of Downtown Raleigh on our rooftop terrace with serene rock garden.
Seated: 175
Reception: 250 standing
Availability: 9am – 5pm or 6pm – 10pm
For questions regarding rentals, please submit a Rental Events Inquiries form.