International House at UC Berkeley

What International House at UC Berkeley does

International House at UC Berkeley is a 501(c)(3)-style nonprofit residential community and event venue affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley, operating since 1930 from a single historic campus-adjacent facility at 2299 Piedmont Avenue in Berkeley, California. The organization runs two intertwined lines of business. The first is a residential program housing more than 600 international and domestic UC Berkeley students in an intercultural community, supported by the Robertson Resident Life and Intercultural Development Office (RIO), structured leadership opportunities, and public dining facilities (Dining Commons and Edmonds' Cafe). The second is a commercial-grade event services operation comprising the Chevron Auditorium (a 380-seat theater with full-size stage, Meyer Sound audio, ETC Ion lighting, and dual-camera live streaming), the Golub Home Room, the Ida & Robert Sproul Conference Spaces, full-service catering certified under Eat Well Berkeley, and in-house production services covering AV, recording, musical performance packages, and post-production.

The underlying technology stack is conventional professional AV rather than software-based: Meyer Sound reinforcement, Behringer X32 digital consoles, ETC Ion lighting control, Chauvet uplighting, Prowise 84-inch touchscreens, 55-inch HD screens, Meeting Owl Pro 360-degree video conferencing, and dual-camera live streaming with a video switcher. The website runs on UC Berkeley's Open Berkeley Drupal-on-Pantheon content platform under branding delivered by the university's Office of Communications & Public Affairs.

The business model is a hybrid of recurring residential fees (academic-year and summer housing) and per-event revenue streams from venue rental, catering (unit-priced menus and buffets), and production add-ons (microphones, recording, instruments, monitors, video). Distribution is direct: an event inquiry process supported by dedicated event planning staff, an online housing application portal, and a Blackbaud-powered donation pipeline for alumni and supporters. Customer segments include UC Berkeley students and departments, campus-affiliated organizations, corporate event clients, nonprofit organizations, and Berkeley-area community members — with marketing conducted through owned social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn alumni group, YouTube, WordPress blog) and email newsletters. Revenue, financial performance, and headcount trends are not publicly disclosed.

Name

International House at UC Berkeley

Legal name

UC Regents

Website

https://ihouse.berkeley.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

International House at UC Berkeley is a 1930-founded nonprofit residential community and event venue affiliated with UC Berkeley. It houses 600+ students in an intercultural program and operates catering, production, and venue rental services across the Chevron Auditorium, Home Room, and Sproul Rooms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Housing and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (7213)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Residence Halls & Dormitory Management (On-/Near-Campus) (EDAIALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

University & Educational Venue Operations (Auditoriums, Campus Arenas) (MPAGALAI), Summer/Conference Housing & Guest Accommodations (EDALACAI)

Keywords

• Student housing services
• Event venue rentals
• Catering services
• Audiovisual production
• Intercultural programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Event Venue Rentals: Rental revenue from multiple event venues including the Chevron Auditorium (up to 380 capacity), The Home Room, and The Sproul Rooms for conferences, trainings, meetings, and celebrations
2. Catering Services: Full-service on-site catering for events including breakfast buffets, sandwich offerings, hot buffets, reception selections, and formal plated dinners. Approved Eat Well Berkeley caterer with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
3. Production Services: In-house AV and production equipment rental including audio recording, musical performance packages, band equipment, video recording, uplighting, and technical support
4. Student Housing: Residential community housing for international and domestic students at UC Berkeley

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

International House at UC Berkeley operates a student residential community housing more than 600 international and domestic students in an intercultural living environment, while also serving as a full-service event venue and hospitality provider. The organization rents multiple event spaces (Chevron Auditorium with 380-seat theater capacity, the Golub Home Room, and the Sproul Rooms) and provides bundled in-house catering services and audiovisual production support for conferences, corporate events, performances, and celebrations hosted by UC Berkeley departments, corporations, nonprofits, and community members.

Product overview

International House at UC Berkeley operates a multifaceted hospitality and residential services organization combining student housing with comprehensive event venue management. The core offerings include: (1) Student Residential Housing accommodating over 600 students in an intercultural community setting; (2) Event Venue Rentals featuring the flagship Chevron Auditorium with full-size stage and professional AV capabilities, plus the Golub Home Room with bay views and the Ida & Robert Sproul Conference Spaces; (3) Full-Service Catering with customizable menus and Eat Well Berkeley certification; (4) In-House Production Services including Meyer Sound audio, ETC Ion-controlled theater lighting, dual-camera live streaming, and post-production editing; and (5) Public Dining Facilities including Dining Commons and Edmonds' Cafe. The integrated venue plus catering plus production services model enables I-House to host conferences, performances, corporate events, and intimate gatherings with a single-source solution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chevron Auditorium: Premier full-size stage venue with cutting-edge audiovisual technology, flagship event space of International House Berkeley
• Golub Home Room
• The Sproul Rooms
• Edmonds' Cafe
• Robertson Resident Life and Intercultural Development Office (RIO)

Products and services

• Student Housing (Residential Program) On-campus residential housing program for international and domestic UC Berkeley students, accommodating more than 600 residents in shared living spaces with structured intercultural programming, leadership development, and community-building activities managed by the Robertson Resident Life and Intercultural Development Office (RIO).
• Chevron Auditorium Venue Rental Premier full-size stage event venue at International House accommodating theater (380), banquet (240), classroom (160), and reception (300) configurations, equipped with state-of-the-art theater lighting, Meyer Sound high-fidelity audio system, dual-camera live streaming, and video production capabilities for conferences, performances, and corporate events.
• Golub Home Room Venue Rental Intimate event venue featuring antique furnishings, a grand decorative fireplace, and a private balcony with sweeping bay views, equipped with an 84-inch Prowise touchscreen display and Meeting Owl Pro video conferencing capabilities for meetings, celebrations, and hybrid gatherings.
• The Sproul Rooms (Ida & Robert Sproul Conference Spaces) One-to-two room conference space rental featuring elegant architectural details and comprehensive audiovisual support including 55-inch HD screens, suitable for meetings, conferences, and breakout sessions.
• Catering Services Full-service on-site catering offering customizable menus including breakfast buffets, sandwich offerings, hot buffets, reception selections, and plated dinners; approved Eat Well Berkeley caterer with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options across every menu category.
• Production Services In-house audiovisual and production services including Meyer Sound audio system, Behringer X32 digital audio console, ETC Ion digital lighting console, Chauvet uplighting, dual-camera live streaming with video switcher technology, video recording with closed captioning, and post-production editing for events at International House.
• Dining Commons Full-service dining facility open to the public, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with international cuisine options for residents and visitors at International House.
• Edmonds' Cafe Cafe dining option located adjacent to the Foyer Entrance of Chevron Auditorium at International House, open to the public for casual food and beverages.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UC BerkeleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational House Berkeley is affiliated with UC Berkeley, located adjacent to campus, and serves UC Berkeley students as residents while hosting events for campus departments and organizations. The organization maintains the mission of bringing local and international communities together for intercultural learning and understanding, consistent with university values.
• Eat Well BerkeleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational House Berkeley is an approved Eat Well Berkeley caterer, prioritizing fresh, whole ingredients with extensive vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options in every menu category.
• Office of Communications & Public Affairs (UC Berkeley)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBranding identity and design provided by UC Berkeley Office of Communications & Public Affairs for website and marketing materials.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Berkeley City Club: Historic Berkeley event venue designed by Julia Morgan with event spaces, dining, and cultural programming. Competes for weddings, nonprofit galas, and corporate events with comparable historic positioning and architectural appeal.
• David Brower Center: Berkeley-based nonprofit conference and event venue with an environmental mission, located near downtown Berkeley. Directly comparable as a mission-driven Berkeley event venue competing for similar nonprofit and corporate bookings.
• Hotel Shattuck Plaza: Downtown Berkeley hotel with meeting and event spaces that competes for the same Berkeley corporate event and wedding market as I-House. Comparable as a proximate venue option for event clients in the Berkeley catchment area.
• Jewish Community Center of San Francisco: Mission-driven community center with event spaces, cultural programming, and educational offerings in the Bay Area. Comparable as a nonprofit organization operating event venues alongside community programming, though in a different immediate geography.
• Cal Performances: UC Berkeley's flagship performing arts venue and presenter, located on the same campus. Directly competes with Chevron Auditorium for performance, lecture, and conference bookings from campus and external clients.

Direct peers

• International House New York: Non-profit residential community and event venue serving Columbia University and the broader NYC international student population since 1924. Operates the same model of student housing combined with cultural programming and event hosting, making it the closest conceptual peer.
• International House at University of Chicago: Residential community for University of Chicago students with a similar intercultural mission, event programming, and dining services. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and target audience to I-House Berkeley.
• International House Philadelphia: International student residence in Philadelphia with intercultural programming and event hosting, part of the broader International Houses Worldwide network. Mirrors I-House Berkeley's nonprofit residential-plus-events model.

Broad incumbents

• Greystar Real Estate Partners (Student Housing Division): Largest student housing operator in the United States, managing purpose-built student residences near major universities. Operates at vastly greater scale with a for-profit model but serves the same student residential demand segment I-House addresses at UC Berkeley.
• Claremont Hotel Club & Spa: Historic Bay Area luxury hotel with extensive meeting and event facilities. Operates a broader for-profit hospitality portfolio but competes directly for premium Bay Area corporate events, galas, and conferences that I-House also targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ihouseberkeley
• YouTubeyoutube.com/IHouseBerkeley
• Facebookfacebook.com/BerkeleyIHouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-house-at-uc-berkeley
• Instagraminstagram.com/ihouseberkeley

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International House at UC Berkeley