Urban Grace

Urban Grace is a historic 40,000-square-foot event venue and community facility in downtown Tacoma, Washington. The building traces back to 1883, when First Baptist Church first incorporated on the site; the congregation outgrew a series of earlier buildings before starting a capital campaign in 1921 for the structure that stands today. Architects Heath, Gove, and Bell designed the Gothic Revival building, completed in 1925 with glazed terracotta facing and cut stone supplied below market rate by the Walker Cut Stone Company. From the outset, the building was designed to serve more than worship, and that dual purpose carries through in its event spaces today. The Auditorium, renovated in 2021, seats up to 850 guests including its balcony, or 450 on the lower level alone, beneath a lattice-designed domed ceiling, with theatre seating, a modern sound system, and projection capabilities suited to weddings, concerts, and large gatherings. The Large Event Space offers 4,180 square feet of hardwood flooring and a raised stage for receptions of up to 200, backed by a full commercial kitchen, while the Chapel seats up to 80 amid stained glass and mahogany accents for more intimate ceremonies and small gatherings. A Conference Room and a Small Event Space accommodate meetings and gatherings of 40 and 60 respectively, each lit by the building's original ten-foot windows overlooking downtown Tacoma. Beyond hosting weddings and private events, Urban Grace is also home to more than fifteen resident nonprofits and arts organizations.