The Pittsburgh Shrine Center

Set on 37 wooded acres in Harmar Township near Cheswick, Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Shrine Center opened its current facility in October 1994, replacing the original Syria Mosque that had served Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood since 1916. The 40,000-square-foot building carries architectural touches from that history, including a sphinx statue that greets guests along the entrance drive. The venue's Grand Ballroom spans 11,500 square feet and seats up to 700 guests around a sunken wooden dance floor, with a 61-by-32-foot stage suited to bands, ceremonies, or presentations. The room can also be divided into as many as five smaller configurations for meetings or events of a more intimate scale. Outdoors, the Picnic Pavilion sits across 5.5 acres of grounds with a volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and a children's play area, backed by a full commercial kitchen for catered gatherings. The Pittsburgh Shrine Center has hosted more than 500 weddings since 1994, alongside banquets, business meetings, and community events. Free onsite parking for more than 500 vehicles and ADA-accessible entrances support events of any size.