The Oakland City Center room inventory is held in reserve each term until University classes are booked. Regularly scheduled University classes take first priority for space, followed by University meetings and events. Reservations are filled on a first-come-first-served basis using our 25Live reservation portal. We accept reservation requests for dates within the current school term only. Requests outside of that date range will be discarded, and you will need to resubmit your request at the appropriate time. 

The Oakland City Center offers a convenient online booking service for students, faculty, and staff who wish to reserve private study rooms throughout the building. Study rooms can be reserved using the Campus Rooms Scheduling tool.

Student Booking

Drop-ins are also welcome. If there is space available at the time you need it, the space is yours.  If you have questions, please call our Facilities staff at 510.879.9277.

Faculty and Staff Booking
  • Online reservation requests must be received by 4 p.m. one day prior to the first booking date
  • Conference rooms are available up to six months in advance 
  • Classrooms used for extra-curricular or supplemental meetings are made available only after academic scheduling is completed—about four weeks prior to the start of an academic term
  • Rooms subject to availability
  • Internal Reservations Policies and Guidelines

In most cases, if there is space available at the time you need it, the space is yours.  If you have questions, contact Facilities staff at 510.879.9277 or by email.

Find Us

Oakland City Center
525 12th Street
Oakland, 94607

External clients who would like to reserve space for events, please contact Facilities by email or phone  510.879.9277

  • Priority is given to SMU's educational mission
    • All room inventory is held in reserve until University classes are booked
    • Reservations are filled on a first-come-first-served basis
    • Reservations should be made at least 72 hours in advance
    • A fee is charged to everyone who uses our SMU facilities
    • The Oakland City Center is costly to use. Consequently, it can only be booked for events for which no other equally suitable room is available
    • Event types permittedin the Oakland City Center include University events, off-site meetings, business retreats, training seminars, presentations, teleconferences, business development seminars, annual meetings
    • Event types which are not permitted in the Oakland City Center include parties, dances, weddings, and any event where money will be collected on-site from attendees
    • Self-catered events are not permitted in any Oakland City Center room
    • For catered events, room reservations begin one before and end one hour after the actual scheduled event to allow time for set-up and breakdown
  • Review the Room Rental Policies and Contract
  • Review the Audio Visual Equipment Rental Price List
  • Print and complete the Reservation Request Form
  • Submit the form to the Business Operation and Events Coordinator via email
What to Expect After Submitting Your Request
  • If the room is available for the date and time you requested, the Business Operations and Events Coordinator will contact you via email with instructions for continuing the reservation process. Requirements are detailed in the Room Rental Policies and Contract.
  • If the room you requested is not available, you will receive an email to that effect from the Business Operations and Events Coordinator
  • If your request is for a date outside of the range for which reservations are currently being accepted, you will receive an email to that effect from the Business Operations and Events Coordinator; your request will be discarded, and you will need to resubmit your request at the appropriate time

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