What is a Central Pool Classroom?
The Central Pool Classroom (CPC) system comprises approximately 165 classrooms in 29 buildings throughout Penn’s campus. The CPCs are primarily used for undergraduate and graduate classes, although a large number of events, student activities, conferences, and community groups also use the facilities. The Office of the University Registrar (OUR) has priority over CPCs, and Special Event bookings through University Life Space & Events Management (ULSE) cannot be processed until OUR has completed assigning classrooms for classes. When booking a CPC, please keep in mind that if your event takes place outside of typical building hours, your event will be subject to additional charges. Read more about factors and fees to consider when booking a CPC below.
University Life Space & Events will not be taking Central Pool Classroom reservations at this time. Central Pool Classroom reservations for Fall 2025 will reopen on September 16, 2025. Please check back soon or call our office at (215) 898-5552 for more information.
University Life Space & Events is now taking reservations for Special Events in Central Pool Classroom spaces. Please follow the link above and sign in with your PennKey to request a reservation. Please allow 10 business days to hear back from us. If you have any questions, please call the Space & Events office at (215) 898-5552.
Important CPC Dates for Special Events
May 19th – July 30th, 2025
Summer ’25 CPC Reservations reservations are available with a 10-business day processing timeframe.
August, 2025
For CPC special events, please reach out to Andrea Krapevka, Events Manager to inquire about an exceptions process.
Fall 2025
We are not accepting Fall ’25 CPC Special Event requests at this time.
For CPC special events, please reach out to Andrea Krapevka, Events Manager to inquire about an exceptions process.
No special events are permitted to reserve CPC spaces.
No special events are permitted to reserve CPC spaces.
We are not accepting Fall '25 CPC Special Event requests at this time.
Spring '25 CPC Reservations open with a 10-business day processing timeframe.
CPC spaces can be reserved for Spring '25 Special Events.
For CPC special events, please reach out to Andrea Krapevka, Events Manager to inquire about an exceptions process.
Summer '25 CPC Reservations reservations open with a 10-business day processing timeframe.
CPC spaces can be reserved for Summer 2025 Special Events
We are not accepting Fall '25 CPC Special Event requests at this time.
Fall '25 CPC Reservations open with a 10-business day processing timeframe.
CPC spaces can be reserved for Fall '25 Special Events.
Summer '25 CPC Reservations reservations are available with a 10-business day processing timeframe.
For CPC special events, please reach out to Andrea Krapevka, Events Manager to inquire about an exceptions process.
We are not accepting Fall '25 CPC Special Event requests at this time.
We will resume collecting Fall 2025 CPC special event reservation requests once the Fall 2025 semester begins. Please check back for more information and updates. We will not be able to start executing Fall 2025 special events in Central Pool Classrooms until the Office of the University Registrar has finalized the Fall 2025 academic schedule and there is accurate room availability.
For more information or with questions, please call ULSE at (215) 898-5552.
Special Event or Academic Event?
Please review the information below to determine if a CPC is an appropriate space for your event and if your event qualifies as a Special Event.
Special Events
Special Events can be booked through University Life Space & Events Management. These include student-sponsored events, one-time special events, conferences, and events sponsored by non-University groups.
Qualities of a Special Event:
- You are part of an Office of Student Affairs Registered Student Organization looking to reserve a classroom space for an event or a general body meeting.
- Your event takes place on the weekend or beyond standard business hours.
- Your event is hosting non-PennCard holding guests from outside the Penn community.
- Your event is a conference featuring high-profile speaker(s).
- Your event needs additional AV needs beyond the classroom capabilities.
Academic Events
Academic Events are processed by the Office of the University Registrar and should be requested through the Academic Event Scheduling Portal.
Qualities of an Academic Event:
- A review session
- A reservation for a Midterm Exam.
- A University lecturer presenting to the Penn Community.
- Other course-related events.
If you have questions about academic events, please contact the Office of the University Registrar at ourscheduling@registrar.upenn.edu.
This is not an exhaustive list of event types. If you have questions, please contact our office at (215) 898-5552.
Important Factors to Consider When Reserving a CPC for a Special Event
There are fees associated with special events such as room rental, potential need for a guard, etc. Please anticipate a budget for your events before applying for a Special Event in a CPC. Please see the section below for more information regarding specific policies and associated fees.
University Life Space & Events is unable to offer space to individual students and individual faculty members. The event must be endorsed, supported and funded by a Registered Student Organization or Penn Department. A budget code will need to be supplied during the application process.
The Office of the University Registrar and Space & Events Management do not follow the same policies and procedures. Visit the Policies page for more information.
Each CPC building has its own administrative team and set of building guidelines and restrictions. Space & Events reserves a select set of classroom spaces in these buildings but does not manage the buildings. Space & Events follows advisement from each building administration team and all building policies must be followed by the event organizers and guests.
There is NO food or drink allowed in classroom spaces.
Academic classes take priority in classroom spaces. Availability in the building or room of your preference may not be available on the date or time you’ve requested. An Event Coordinator will match your event with the most appropriate space based on your event needs.
Events that take place beyond the CPC building’s hours of operation will need an Allied Guard to open/unlock the doors as well as additional housekeeping.
Central Pool Classroom Fees
When reserving a Special Event in a Central Pool Classroom through Space & Events, event organizers must keep in mind that when an event takes place outside of building hours, additional fees will apply. Please consider the costs below when planning an event in a Central Pool Classroom. Note that each building has its own set of guidelines and operational hours that Space & Events does not manage.
Off-Hour Additional Costs
- Building access is managed by an Allied Guard. This is billed at a 4-hour minimum including a half-hour lead and end time on either end of your event. For student events, the hourly rate for Allied Guards is $37.13/hr. With a 4-hour minimum, the starting cost of guards is $148.52. Department and external event rates are higher.
- Housekeeping is required to reset the room for use after your event. This is billed at a 2-hour minimum. For student events, the hourly rate for housekeeping is $59.26/hr. With a 2-hour minimum, the starting cost of housekeeping is $118.52. Department and external event rates are higher.
These costs bring the total minimum cost for a student event outside of building hours to $267.04. Please keep in mind that this is the minimum cost. If your event is longer or more complex, you will be charged additional fees. If you have further questions, please reach out to the Space & Events office at (215) 898-5552 or the Building Administrator for your preferred venue. Please find a comprehensive list of Local Support Information for CPCs here, including Technology Support and Building Administrators.
CPC Reservation Request Form
Apply here for events requesting a Central Pool Classroom special event reservation on dates 2/2/25 thru 4/30/25. Be mindful we cannot accommodate event requests less than 10 business days before the date of the event. We are not accepting reservation requests for dates beyond 4/30/25 at this time.
Your inquiry will be matched with a classroom that best suits your event needs. Building and room preferences will be taken into consideration but cannot be guaranteed.