Conference Services
APL’s Conference Services team manages scheduling for spaces on APL’s main campus. A variety of events and conferences are hosted throughout the year by external organizations.
Interested in reserving a space? Please review our reservation guidance and rental fees. Contact us for more information about accessibility and space availability.
Available Spaces
Our team is available to provide you with support and service for your event needs. Learn more about our spaces below.

Semmel Center Auditorium Capacity: 150–200
Located on the first floor of the Semmel Center (Building 201), this space can seat up to 200 depending on configuration and is used for social events and presentations. Three video walls are available to enhance the meeting experience and accommodate hybrid meetings.
This is a multilevel security space. Please contact us to discuss current security-level capabilities.

Semmel Center Breakout Rooms Capacity: 15–30
Two breakout rooms are located on the first floor of the Semmel Center (Building 201). These flexible spaces seat 30 and can be used for presentations and social events. They are typically used in conjunction with larger meetings held in the auditorium.

Building 200, Room E100 Capacity: 100
Located in the lobby area of Building 200, this space can seat up to 100 in comfortable theater-style seating. The front of the room accommodates up to 30 seats with tables. This space is frequently used for peer reviews and larger meetings.
This is a multilevel security space. Please contact us to discuss current security-level capabilities.

Kossiakoff Conference and Education Center
The Kossiakoff Conference and Education Center supports APL’s operations and the resident academic activities of Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering. It may also be used by non-APL organizations limited to local nonprofit community service organizations where the intent of the event is consistent with the public service mission of APL.

Kossiakoff Center Auditorium Capacity: 500
The Kossiakoff Center Auditorium accommodates up to 500 people in comfortable theater-style seating. State-of-the-art audiovisual systems permit use of a variety of media combinations for meetings and conferences. A high-intensity video projector allows playback of a variety of videotape formats as well as multimedia presentations.

Kossiakoff Center Dining Area Capacity: 500–1,000
A large two-level dining area accommodates up to 500 people for a banquet and 1,000 for a reception. A spacious open atmosphere is created by a window wall and mirrored end walls. A catering kitchen provides the necessary facilities for serving banquets and receptions. Conferences or meetings can be set up in a theater configuration in the dining area to accommodate varying audience sizes and presentation requirements. High-intensity video projectors in the dining area allow playback of a variety of video formats as well as multimedia presentations.

Kossiakoff Center Classrooms Capacity: 20–25 (Single); 40–50 (Double)
Classrooms are equipped with projectors and whiteboards across the front wall.

Parsons Auditorium Capacity: 145
Located in the lobby of Building 1, this space seats up to 145 in comfortable theater-style seating. It is frequently used for presentations, technical talks, and meetings.
This is a multilevel security space. Please contact us to discuss current security-level capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
To reserve an APL meeting or event space, the goals of the reserving organization and the specific activity to be supported must be consistent with APL’s strategic business objectives and core values.
Factors include, but are not limited to:
- Alignment with APL mission and values
- Reputation/credibility of the charitable organization
- Geographic focus of charitable activities
- Other compliance and legal considerations
Use by non-APL organizations is limited to private, local government, and nonprofit organizations where the intent of the event is consistent with the public service mission of APL.
Meeting and event spaces can also be reserved by individuals for personal events. When considering reservation requests, APL will prioritize events that are mission focused.
Reservations can be made by organizations co-sponsoring events, private organizations, local government agencies, nonprofits, and individuals.
Reservations can be made based on the eligibility criteria outlined below.
User Category | Fee Requirement | Reservation Timeline |
---|---|---|
Co-sponsored | No fee if no registration fee is charged | 1 year in advance |
Private Organizations | Full-price reservation fee applies | 6 months in advance |
Local Government Agencies | Full-price reservation fee applies | 6 months in advance |
Nonprofit Organizations | Full-price reservation fee applies | 3 months in advance |
APL business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
Please note: The Kossiakoff Center does not host personal or non-business-related events.
During Business Hours (Monday–Friday)
- Co-sponsored events are allowed.
- Local government agencies may only rent APL spaces for off-peak times (Mondays or Fridays).
After Business Hours (After 6 p.m.)
- External business events and personal events are permitted with applicable fees.
- Business events may use any conference spaces except Building 200.
- Personal events are restricted to Parsons Auditorium.
Weekends
- Local government agencies will be charged regular rates.
Rental Fees for APL Spaces
Location | Fee | Nonrefundable Deposit |
---|---|---|
Kossiakoff Center Auditorium | $950 | $570 |
Kossiakoff Center Dining Area | $500 | $300 |
Kossiakoff Center Classrooms (Each) | $75 | $45 |
Kossiakoff Center Kitchen Fee | $130 | $78 |
Semmel Center Auditorium and Breakout Rooms | $850 | $510 |
Semmel Center Auditorium | $450 | $270 |
Semmel Center Breakout Room (Each) | $100 | $60 |
Parsons Auditorium | $450 | $270 |
Building 200 Auditorium | $350 | $210 |
Getting to APL

Locations and Directions
Our main campus is located midway between Washington, DC, and Baltimore, with convenient access to major highways and local attractions.