Copley Formal Lounge
Copley Formal Lounge, formerly known as the Copley Senior Reading Lounge, was constructed in 1930 as part of Copley Hall. The namesake of Copley Hall and Lounge is Father Thomas Copley, S.J., an early missionary in Maryland and a potential relative of Queen Elizabeth. Copley Lounge, alongside Copley Hall, officially opened to Georgetown students on February 16th, 1931. The space was often used for social events and was originally furnished with sofas, chairs, and a rug. While this decor has been removed, the Lounge still displays the twelve original wooden replicas of the commemorative shields from the front of Copley Hall. Thanks to a restoration initiative led by Eric Wind F’2009 and Jack Carlson F’2009, the shields safely reside in their home, alongside twelve other decorative seals.
Copley Formal Lounge is located inside Copley Hall. This space is available to internal and external clients, and accessible between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. The lounge is considered within the living space of Georgetown University students and, as such, the activities held in them must be approved. Please note that reservations cannot begin before 8:00 am – this includes any setup such as catering or audiovisual vendors. The capacity ranges from 100 seated to 160 standing guests, depending upon setup type. Please see the Space Helper at the bottom of the page.
Food is permitted inside the lounge. Caterers may only set up in the Copley Formal Lounge or in the pantry area. The pantry and Red Square Tent is available by request. Staging is not permitted in any other location, including the first-floor hallway or the back stairwell in Copley.
Alcohol is permitted with appropriate permissions and guidelines
Audiovisual Services: Limited audiovisual services are available in Copley – projector, screen, blu-ray disc player, sound system and podium microphone. Our office also provides an HDMI or VGA connection for compatible laptops. If you are using a Mac laptop, you will need to also bring an adapter with you. A minimal usage fee will be applicable to assist with our office with maintenance costs.
Sound Amplification should be appropriate to the size of the lounge and its location within a living area.
Accessibility: Please contact GEMS in advance for assistance with wheelchairs. A ramp is located to the right of the main entrance to the lounge. All catering and vendor load-in require stairs.
