by Stacey Paretti Rase
The new Northshore Harbor Center in Slidell offers event organizers more than a little bit of Louisiana lagniappe, the unexpected extras that make it a unique and special place. General Manager Kerry Painter says, “We said that we wanted something Louisiana has never seen before, and the team made it happen.”
After its Grand Opening May 20-22, the center will be a great option for conferences, tradeshows, performances, social events and athletic tournaments. With capacity for more than 2,500 people, the space houses a recital hall, meeting rooms, a glass-walled lounge and a huge exhibit space. Designed by Blitch Knevel Architects, the 45,000-square-foot facility is a conference center for the future—tech savvy, but warm and accommodating.
Surrounded by greenery, the center is designed to be as peaceful as it is functional and flexible. The three meeting rooms can be combined into one or two larger rooms, and the 22,000-square-foot free-span Grand Hall can be configured into two large or five small rooms to meet various needs. The center is perfect for hosting events such as Mardi Gras balls, wedding receptions, fundraisers, corporate meetings, car shows or athletic matches. An elegant 297-fixed-seats recital hall is available for smaller gatherings like business lectures, music performances or film series showings.
The center offers a theatre configuration that boasts more than 2,000 seats. It is ideal for stage shows, concerts, graduations and dance recitals, as well as touring productions and children’s theatre. With an indoor/outdoor box office, full grand drape and a 24-foot-by-36-foot stage, the look of a professional theatre can be attained in the middle of the center’s Grand Hall.
Other features that make the Northshore Harbor Center distinctive are its 90,000 square feet of lawn—ideal for picnics and weddings—and ample bathroom facilities, many of which can be utilized for either men or women, depending on the event. For carnival gatherings, a three-truck dock and roll-up door allow trucks or floats access to the floor of the Grand Hall. Additional amenities include complimentary wireless computer access in the center’s lobby, oval dinner tables to foster conversation and save space, and special parking spaces for expectant mothers and parents of young children.
Painter has organized a staff experienced in event planning and attentive to detail. The combination of state-of-the-art design and convenient location will make hosting an upcoming function at the Northshore Harbor Center as great an option for local organizations as it will be for meeting planners from across the country.
Just 30 minutes away from the New Orleans French Quarter and 45 minutes from the Gulf Coast, the center is at the crossroads of three interstate highways and close to two airports. It has access to more than 1,400 hotel rooms, golf courses, nature preserves, family activities and great restaurants.
Funded by bond millages approved by local residents, and operationally supported by the St. Tammany Hotel/Motel Association, the center enjoys enthusiastic cooperation from the local community. The Northshore Harbor Center will be a strong contributor to economic development in St. Tammany Parish, in addition to providing area residents with a great new place to gather for a host of events and occasions.
The Northshore Harbor Center is located across from Lakeshore Estates at 100 Harbor Center Blvd. in Slidell. For information, call 781-3650, or visit www.northshoreharborcenter.com.
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