Facility Overview

The centerpiece of the rental space is a grand ballroom with high ceilings and hardwood floors. Gold ceiling paint evokes the great 20th century performance halls, and upward-focused lighting fills the room with a warm reflected glow. The space is blissfully warm all winter, and we’re studying the feasibility of investing in industrial-grade air conditioning for summer programs, either in 2025 or 2026.

Opened in 1898, the building was originally known as The Masonic Building, designed by architect R. F. Putnam for the Freemasons. The rental space was originally a ballroom used by Masons for public functions (Their secret rituals were conducted in a separate room on the third floor, currently used by the Karuna Center for Yoga & Healing Arts.) Calvin Coolidge, the 30th US President, had his law office in the central part of the building from 1898-1918. More recently, there has been a long history of dance oriented activity, with rehearsals and performances, or inward-focused explorations and parties.

The two latest tenants have been martial arts schools (currently Jidokwan Taekwondo, previously the Brazilian martial art/dance of Capoeira) so the space is well suited for large martial arts seminars or special training.

Some Details

the main hall

is the training floor for River Valley Taekwondo, Northampton’s oldest Taekwondo school, established in 1997.

100 person capacity, per Northampton fire code.
2450 square feet (38.5 feet in front, 42.0 in rear, by 63.5 feet), hardwood floor, 20 foot ceilings
180 square foot balcony at north end (front of hall).
Steam heat; six ceiling fans in three rows, which can be individually controlled to balance airflow vs noise.
US and South Korean flags, Taekwondo-specific art, unobtrusive banners on one side of the room, and three heavy bags (i.e. “punching bags”) can all be removed and stowed if desired.
Wood floors are foot-friendly for bare feet—free of splintered boards, nail pops, and other flaws.
20 folding chairs available for free with rental; 75 additional chairs available at $1/chair/event.
A screen for projections is available upon request. Organizations have also used the large off-white side walls many times for projections. There is no house PA system; renters must bring their own if amplified audio is required.

Book It

the reception area

is 300 square feet (11×27) and contains coat hooks, two small benches, a small table, and two chairs. It has hardwood floors and dimmable lights. Hanging art and certifications are difficult to move, but not impossible if an event requires it. There are wide double doors at the entryway to allow for easy access. We provide a five gallon water cooler, with water jugs available @ $15 per bottle.

three small dressing rooms

with privacy curtains are located down a small hallway off the reception area. Each includes hooks for hanging clothing while changing. There are a small number of metal lockers with secure doors (bring own padlocks) and 14 open wooden cubbies for participants to store belongings.

the private restroom

is small and simple, clean and serviceable. We upgraded the floor, replaced all fixtures, added a powerful hand dryer, and patched/painted all walls in 2025. The restroom includes a small storage area with cleaning supplies for the entire rental space. The attractively patinated wooden door has a small metal sign with Cyrillic lettering—we’ve been told by a Russian speaker that it translates to “Human Resources.”

access via smart lock with keycode

so there’s no need for key handoff/return. Your event will be given a unique code that expires at the end of your reservation (including a reasonable grace period).

Before You Book, Consider This

The most important restriction on this space is a 100-person capacity limit, per the Northampton Fire Department. Events exceeding this limit face immediate shutdown, and the organization will not be allowed to book the space for future events.

The second most important limitation is an absolute prohibition on using the passenger elevator to transport cargo. Food and beverages are permitted in the space, but caterers or organizations serving food on a DIY basis must carry all supplies and equipment up four flights of stairs. The stairs are wide and ceilings high, but it’s a schlep, to be sure. The elevator is old and cranky, it’s absolutely essential for accessibility (a neighboring fourth floor client is a law firm specializing in elder law) and this prohibition must be respected, no exceptions.

The building management monitors security cameras, placed throughout the building, and organizations breaking this restriction will be seen, banned from holding future events in the space, and worst of all, we will get a stern talking-to by the landlord. Don’t do it!

There are several other restrictions to consider:

Music and activities that make significant noise are permitted after 5:45 pm on weekdays and any time on weekends. During business hours (weekdays, 8:00 am – 5:45 pm) renters must limit noise levels to normal conversational volume, and no heavy footsteps/jumping/etc.
Renters must leave no trace of their existence on the walls (no nails, tacks, or anything else that punctures the walls, no tape or gums that leave adhesive marks or residues; masking/painters’ tape okay but must be removed by renter).
Floors must be left broom clean, and all decorations and waste must be removed by the renter. We provide brooms, mops, and a vacuum cleaner for post-event cleanup.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome at all events. Smoking and vaping are prohibited everywhere in the building. Alcoholic beverages may be allowed under certain circumstances but will require advance planning, as well as permitting from the City of Northampton.
Storage is extremely limited and must be arranged in advance. Long-term storage is available at extra cost for renters who use the space regularly.
Certain electrical circuits are finicky and unsuitable for high-draw devices. Check first if you plan to use electrical devices that use higher than normal voltage/amperage.

Detailed rules and regulations are outlined in our usage agreement. Submit a space rental application for a copy of the full usage agreement, which will include all costs and payment information. Submitting an application doesn’t commit you to anything, no hard feelings if you withdraw it before signing an agreement.