Convene Hospitality Group (CHG) has announced it will open a new independently branded venue at Williams Equities’ 120 East 23rd Street in Flatiron: The Aperture. The venue is set to open this autumn.
Drawing inspiration from pioneering photographer Jessie Tarbox Beals, the first published female photojournalist in the US, who had a studio at the 120 East 23rd Street address in the early 20th century, The Aperture will comprise more than 26,000 square-feet of versatile event space spanning two floors. It will be among the largest projection mapping venues in New York City, offering 270-degree projection mapping capabilities across 165 linear feet of digital canvas in the Main Hall.
Located in a terra cotta and limestone building constructed in 1913, The Aperture boasts prime, brandable storefront space on one of Manhattan’s most prominent two-way thoroughfares. The venue will boast advanced technology to create immersive event experiences for brand activations, product launches, and multi-sensory conferences for up to 1,000 people.
“The Aperture is the latest manifestation of our commitment to serve the full spectrum of the events industry,” said Ryan Simonetti, president and CEO of CHG. “Over our 16-year history, we’ve meticulously and masterfully managed AV in-house; with the rise of immersive events, we saw the opportunity to deliver AV production on a grander scale and craft vivid, one-of-a-kind experiences for our clients.”
CHG also notes an increasing demand for immersive events, with event planners placing a high value on the role technology plays in creating a more memorable experience. They point to a 2026 AMEX GBT study which claims 35% are actively looking to utilise sophisticated AV technology in their 2026 programmes; in addition, the market for projection mapping is expected to grow by 20% through 2029. CHG believes The Aperture, as an independent venue, will allow it to better serve this growing industry segment.
A street-level retail entrance will be flanked by double-height windows to the left and a flexible entry on the right that will allow oversized items easy entry to the venue, including the ability for vehicles to drive into the space as needed. Upon entering The Aperture, guests will be greeted by an LED media wall.
The Aperture will have fully motorised theatrical truss and lighting and columns have been integrated to further the immersive experience and will be wrapped in backlit glass bricks that glow, enhancing the overall event ambience. A statement staircase leads to the lower level of The Aperture featuring a secondary pre-function space, ancillary event space and VIP green room with shower. The lower level also houses the venue’s back-of-house operations including a commercial-grade catering kitchen.
CHG is the largest single provider of non-hotel meeting and event venues in the US and UK and its network of 40 locations spans nine global cities. Rendering courtesy of CHG
