- Capacity: Four meeting rooms, including one that seats up to 392 people
- Dining: Full range of dining options
- Location: Convenient Saint Paul campus location
- Service: Planning and technical support
- Parking: Two nearby lots
- Accommodations: Through the Roseville Visitor's Association
Are you being asked to do more with less money? This Saint Paul campus meeting facility and conference center offers you four meeting rooms (that can be divided into smaller spaces) with numerous setup options and a full range of dining choices—all for a low per-person fee. Additionally, we'll help you plan and manage everything from setting up meeting rooms and rental agreements to meal planning and hotel arrangements.
Pricing for Packages
Select from two package options and different day breakdowns within each option described below. Need a customized package? Please let us know.
Room Meeting Packages
The Room Meeting Package includes a general session room with podium and microphone, LCD projector use, flip paper, markers, tape and one Ethernet line. One breakout space is included for every 50 people with a maximum of three breakout spaces. Need additional equipment or breakout spaces (options below)? Just let us know.
| Room Meeting Package | Pricing | U of M Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Full Day (8 a.m.−5 p.m. or 6–10 p.m.) | $18.00 per person | $16.00 per person |
Dining Room Rental
Available from 7:30–9:30 a.m. and from 3:30–10:00 p.m. (audio-visual equipment can rented ala carte)
Courtyard $500
Club $250
Courtside $150
Food Service Packages
A full-day food service package includes a morning continental breakfast break, buffet lunch, afternoon break, and continuous beverage service until 3:30 p.m. Need food service requests outside these times? Just let us know.
| Food Service Packages | Pricing/Per Person* |
|---|---|
| Full Day | $25.90 |
| AM Break (7:30−9:30 a.m.) | $8.60 |
| Lunch (11:30 a.m.−12:30 p.m.) | $12.50 |
| PM Break (1:30−3:30 p.m.) | $5.80 |
| AM/PM Breaks | $14.00 |
| AM Break with Lunch | $21.00 |
| PM Break with Lunch | $17.75 |
* Food and beverage charges are subject to a 7.375% sales tax.
Attendee Prepurchased Lunch
If you do not intend to provide lunch to attendees, they can prepurchase a lunch (up to four days in advance) from the U's Dining Services. Please let us know if you are requesting this option.
Food Samples
Continental Breakfast
7:30−9:30 a.m.
Rotating items:
- pastries, bagels and cream cheese
- yogurt and granola
- hard boiled eggs, sliced meat and cheese
- assorted fresh fruit
- oatmeal and gluten-free oatmeal bars
- coffee, tea, juice, milk, and beverage fountain
Lunch Buffet
11:30 a.m.−12:30 p.m.
Lunch offers delicious choices to satisfy both meat-and-potato lovers and health-conscious attendees alike.
Afternoon Break
1:30−3:30 p.m.
Rotating items:
- fresh cookies
- pretzels, snack mix
- chips and salsa
- carrots, celery, and hummus
- trail mix
- ice cream bars
- assorted sodas
- whole fruit
- freshly brewed coffee and tea
- beverage fountain
Technology
The conference center offers advanced technology services and ongoing technical support to meet your connectivity needs.
Computer Technology Services to Support Your Event
Are you planning a large conference with multiple breakout sessions and presenters? To ensure that everything runs smoothly, we can arrange for:
- speaker laptop connections
- projection setup
- presenters to email data files to our staff
Wireless Internet Service
The Center offers free wireless at a speed sufficient for accessing email and the web.
How to log in to free U of M wireless:
- Select "UofM Guest" from the Wi-Fi network options
- Launch internet browser
- Agree to the Terms of Use
Room Capacities
Upper Level
|
Room Number |
Theater |
Classroom |
Modified Chevron |
U-Shape |
Spoke |
Room |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
392 |
240 |
240 |
45 |
180 |
240 |
|
|
135AC/BD |
196 |
120 |
120 |
42 |
84 |
120 |
|
135A/B/C/D |
70 |
48 |
48 |
21 |
36 |
60 |
|
112 |
72 |
72 |
30 |
48 |
72 |
|
|
155A/B |
42 |
24 |
24 |
15 |
24 |
36 |
|
54 |
36 |
NA |
24 |
24 |
36 |
|
|
156A/B |
24 |
18 |
NA |
12 |
12 |
18 |
|
54 |
36 |
NA |
21 |
24 |
36 |
|
|
166A/B |
24 |
18 |
NA |
9 |
12 |
18 |
Dining Room/Meeting Room
|
Room |
Maximum Capacity |
|---|---|
|
264 |
|
|
Restaurant |
24 |
|
16 conference, 36 (9 four-tops) |
|
|
12 conference |
Download and print these convenient documents in PDF format: Room Capacities and Seating Options.
Floor Plans
Directions and Parking
1890 Buford Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108
Driving Directions
From I-694 take 35W south to the Cleveland Avenue exit (Note: exit to the left). Follow Cleveland Avenue to Larpenteur Avenue. Go east (left) on Larpenteur to Gortner, turn south (right) on Gortner, and go to Buford Avenue. Turn east (left) on Buford Avenue to the parking area.
From I-35W take the Highway 36 exit and turn south on Cleveland Avenue to Larpenteur Avenue. Go east (left) on Larpenteur to Gortner, turn south (right) on Gortner, and go to Buford Avenue. Turn east (left) on Buford Avenue to the parking area.
From downtown Saint Paul: Go west on I-94 to Snelling Ave. Go north on Snelling Ave. to Larpenteur Avenue. Go west (left) on Larpenteur to Gortner, turn south (left) on Gortner, and go to Buford Avenue. Turn east (left) on Buford Avenue to the parking area.
From downtown Minneapolis: Go east on I-94 to MN-280, exit number 236. (Note: exit to the left.) Merge onto MN-280 north. Exit at Larpenteur Ave. Take Larpenteur east (right) to Gortner (third traffic light). Turn south (right) on Gortner and go to Buford Avenue. Turn east (left) on Buford Avenue to the parking area.
Public Transportation/Parking Information
Please see this Parking and Transportation Services page for all public transportation options.
Recommended lots and ramps include:
- Lot S104 − South of the conference center; follow Buford east one block to stop sign, S104 is to the right
- Lot S108 (not open June−August) − South of the conference center; follow Buford east one block to stop sign, S108 is directly ahead
- Gortner Ramp − West of CECC, across Gortner
Contact Us
612-624-3275 | cce-confctr@umn.edu
1890 Buford Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie Berry | Client Relations Supervisor/Reservations | 612-624-3275 | lberry@umn.edu |
| Michael Wybierala | Conference Operations Supervisor/Technology Manager | 612-624-3667 | wybi0001@umn.edu |
| Ron Forsyth | Food Service Manager | 612-624-4234 | forsy119@umn.edu |
| Wendy Gardner | Conference Services Coordinator | 612-624-3411 | wgardner@umn.edu |
| Matt Caflisch | Communications Specialist | 612-624-0790 | cafli002@umn.edu |
| Cody Grimsley | Communications Specialist | 612-624-9249 | grims092@umn.edu |
Related Programs
Conference Center Highlights
Snack Attack
We have food service packages to fit any size group and budget. Order the full day package ($25.90/person) or pick and choose from our list of meals and snacks, starting at $5.80 per person.
Tour Our Facility
Make an appointment to visit our full-service facility. We can accommodate groups of up to 392 (in a single meeting room), with multiple room configurations available.
If you’re in need of meeting space this fall, we have openings September through November. Give us a call, we’re here for you! 612-624-3275 or cce-confctr@umn.edu.
Book Smarts
If you’re new to the event management scene and looking for guidance, How to Become an Event Planner Even if You Have No Experience and No Connections, gives you the tools you need to make your meeting a success—even a planning checklist! It’s a quick, affordable read and, as one reviewer remarked, “All killer no filler.”
You can find it online at Amazon.com
Online Event Planning Course
For a deeper dive into event planning, take advantage of the Festival & Event Management Online Course offered by U of M Extension. The six-week course will teach you strategies for a winning event, including defining your audience, branding, and recruiting volunteers, staff, and sponsors. For more information, visit the Extension website.
Webinars That Work
Whatever your industry, you need soft skills to really stand out. U of M webinars—delivered by industry experts—can help you burnish skills such as handling difficult situations and navigating office politics in a convenient live streaming or pre-recorded format. Visit the archive and get started today.
Request for Proposal
If you submit this form today requesting a proposal for your upcoming event, we’ll send you a useful 20-year planning calendar—absolutely free!