A fresh take on meetings: Laurentian research centre open for business.

• Author: Kelly, Lindsay
• Position: CONFERENCE & CONVENTION - Laurentian University of Sudbury

Event organizers looking to bring a fresh take to meetings and workshops have a unique new option in the Vale Living With Lakes Centre at Laurentian University in Sudbury. Perched on the shore of Lake Ramsey, the centre offers a scenic alternative to break up the monotony of boardrooms and meeting rooms.

It's an intimate venue conducive to small gatherings. But even though it doesn't host a large amount of space, its atmosphere is having a big impact on clients, said Julie Ceming, manager of conferences and event services for Laurentian University.

"The appeal about this place is that it's right on the water and there are different uses of the space. It has the flexibility for whatever a group is looking for," she said. "We've set press conferences up here, it offers a great backdrop for interviews, and just adds a little warmth to any event instead of doing it in your standard hall or any space that might be very industrial-looking."

The centre houses researchers with the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit and, through the school year, host lectures and student classes. But during evenings, weekends and the off-season, the space is open to hosting events.

Two classrooms, one on the ground floor and one on the upper level, can hold between 40 and 80 people each, depending on how the room is set up, while the foyer, which has a capacity of between 100 and 120, is often used for breakout meetings or cocktail receptions. The lower-level classroom enters out onto a large patio, leading to walking trails along the shoreline, which are ideal either for teambuilding exercises or for participants to take breaks throughout the day.

Fully equipped with webcasting and streaming capabilities, the classrooms feature large-format and presenter screens, audio-visual capabilities, and lectures can be streamed between the classrooms.

"The equipment's there to use, but we also provide the support and the IT that goes along with it," said Ceming, who noted the centre will aim to bring in any equipment needed. "We have a great team and we work with any client based on what they need, and that's prepared as part of a package of their rental agreement."

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Ceming said the centre challenges the idea of a classroom as a staid, stuffy box with fixed seating. With movable furniture, the space can be set up in classroom-style, theatre-style, or as a boardroom.

Catering for events is...