Inside: Calderwood Courtyard at the Harvard Art Museums

Centered in the heart of the museums, the Calderwood Courtyard is the ideal space to host your event in Cambridge. This gloriously restored interior space serves as the central point of circulation in the museums’ new home. The courtyard is modeled after the façade of the canon’s house of the 15th-century church of San Biagio, in Montepulciano, Italy. Overhead, the dramatic new glass roof designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop enables controlled natural light to illuminate the upper levels of the facility and filter into the courtyard below, which is especially stunning at dusk. The courtyard also offers your guests striking views of the upper five levels of the museums, including glimpses of glass-walled conservation labs, the colorful cabinets containing the famed Forbes pigment collection, and three levels of galleries. Surrounded with original works of art and unobstructed views along the courtyard floor, entertaining in the center of Harvard Square has never been more appealing.

After hours, the courtyard is open to you and your guests creating a truly private space. Paired with The Catered Affair’s gourmet menu, this is the perfect space for everything from corporate events to weddings.

In the Calderwood Courtyard, one can look forward to a customized event fit for the most intimate of gatherings to the most grand. Commemorate a milestone achievement with an elegant seated dinner under the stunning glass roof, or plan the perfect awards ceremony or holiday party with refined hors d’oeuvres and a sparkling toast. One of our favorite things about the courtyard is its versatility. With ample room for dinner and dancing with a band or convention-style seating ideal for a gala with keynote speaker, the courtyard is ideal for corporate events.

Our Tip: Rejuvenate your night by offering passed desserts after your formal seated dinner! Guests will be able to enjoy mini jar pies or milkshakes and cookies while mingling throughout the full breadth of the courtyard.