Need meeting space near Margate for a workshop, seminar or HOA meeting? The Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale rents rooms at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park, about 16 minutes from Margate. Its Multipurpose Room seats 40 conference-style with a whiteboard, the Main Auditorium seats 275 (110 for a seated dinner), and the lot parks 150 vehicles.
At a glance
- From Margate: about 16 minutes and 8.7 miles by car (typical time; traffic varies).
- Multipurpose Room: 1,026 sq ft; 40 conference-style, 50 auditorium-style or 70 cocktail-style, with a whiteboard.
- Main Auditorium: 2,944 sq ft; 275 auditorium-style or 110 for a seated dinner.
- Welcome Lobby: 1,418 sq ft; up to 200 cocktail-style, with a Guest Services desk.
- Parking: on-site lot for up to 150 vehicles.
- Kitchen and Wi-Fi: kitchen access with the Auditorium or Multipurpose Room; password-protected complimentary Wi-Fi.
- To book: call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868.
Why Margate planners look to Oakland Park for workshops
Margate got its name from founder Jack Marqusee plus the word “gateway,” because the town was seen as a gateway to western Broward. These days the gateway works in both directions. A short run east on Commercial Boulevard puts a Margate group in a room built for teaching, talking and taking notes.
That matters for the kind of gatherings Margate generates. According to the 2020 census, 21.5% of residents were 65 or older, and the city is home to the Northwest Focal Point Senior Center, which serves adults 60 and up with services like counseling, the SHINE program and meals. Groups that teach Medicare basics, caregiving skills or healthy-living classes need a quiet, well-lit room, a whiteboard and chairs that are comfortable for two hours. That is the job the Multipurpose Room was set up to do.
Margate also runs a Community Redevelopment Agency, created in 1996, focused on keeping neighborhoods safe and attractive. Neighborhood and civic groups that grow out of that work need somewhere neutral to meet, present plans and take questions. You can read more about the city on its official area information page.
How far is it from Margate?
From the center of Margate, the drive is about 8.7 miles and typically takes about 16 minutes. The usual route heads east on West Atlantic Boulevard (SR 814), turns south on Lyons Road, continues down Northwest 31st Avenue, then runs east on West Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) and East Commercial Boulevard to North Dixie Highway.
Those times are typical free-flow estimates measured from the middle of the city, so your own trip will depend on where you start and on traffic. Traffic on these roads varies with the time of day. If your workshop starts at 9 a.m., tell attendees to give themselves a little cushion.
Workshops, seminars and HOA annual meetings
The venue’s own list of welcome events includes classes, seminars, workshops and retreats, plus meet-ups, networking and team-building. For Margate groups, three formats come up again and again.
Daytime health and wellness seminars
A seminar on fall prevention, nutrition or benefits enrollment usually runs best in the Multipurpose Room set auditorium-style for up to 50. The whiteboard handles the presenter’s notes, and the kitchen next door can hold coffee and a light lunch. If you expect a bigger turnout, or want slides on a projection screen, move to the Main Auditorium and its professional sound and video booth.
HOA and condo association annual meetings
Annual meetings bring out more owners than a regular board meeting, and someone always asks to hear the treasurer’s report again. A conference-style setup for 40 works for a board workshop. For a full membership vote, the Main Auditorium seats up to 275, so nobody stands in the back, and the lobby gives you a place to set up a sign-in table and hand out ballots.
Caribbean family celebrations and quinceañeras
Margate’s families gather for bigger occasions too. Census figures show a large West Indian community, including Jamaican and Haitian residents, and 27.11% of residents identified as Hispanic or Latino in 2020. A birthday dinner, a church anniversary or a quinceañera fits the Main Auditorium, which seats 110 for a seated dinner, with the lobby ready for arrivals.
Which room fits your guest count?
Pick the room by how people will sit, not just by how many are coming. Forty people around conference tables need more space than forty people in rows.
| Room | Size | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multipurpose Room | 1,026 sq ft | 40 conference-style, 50 auditorium-style, 70 cocktail-style | Workshops, board meetings, small seminars, training days |
| Main Auditorium | 2,944 sq ft | 275 auditorium-style, 110 seated dinner | HOA annual meetings, large seminars, banquets, family celebrations |
| Welcome Lobby | 1,418 sq ft | 200 cocktail-style | Check-in, receptions, networking before a program |
Not sure which way to go? The rental page lists every room and its furniture, and Jim Wood can help you match the room to your agenda.
See the Multipurpose Room and other spaces
What’s included: tables, linens, place settings and the kitchen
A Multipurpose Room rental includes four 60-inch round tables (seating 8 to 10 each) with basic linens, a mix of rectangular buffet tables, six square card tables, six round high-top cocktail tables with black linens or spandex, 50 tan banquet chairs and a whiteboard. Not every table will fit in the room at once, and the team will help you plan a layout that does.
A Main Auditorium rental includes:
- Thirteen 60-inch round tables (seating 8 each) with basic linens
- Rectangular buffet tables, square card tables and high-top cocktail tables
- 275 tan banquet chairs, plus two blue linen couches and two club chairs
- Place settings for 200: salad and dinner plates, full dinnerware, basic linen napkins and water glasses
- Access to the kitchen and password-protected complimentary Wi-Fi
The kitchen comes with the Main Auditorium or Multipurpose Room. It has two microwave ovens, a commercial coffee maker, a double-door refrigerator and a commercial reach-in refrigerator with 26 tray holders. For a morning seminar, that coffee maker does a lot of the work.
Planning tip: For a workshop of 25 to 40, ask for a U-shaped conference setup in the Multipurpose Room. Everyone can see the whiteboard and each other, which keeps the question-and-answer part of the session lively.
Sound, video, streaming and teleprompter
The Main Auditorium has a fully equipped professional sound and video booth with projection, streaming capabilities and a presidential teleprompter. It is staffed by the Center’s own team. That is useful for a seminar series where some members can’t make the drive, or for an HOA meeting that needs to be recorded for owners who are away for the summer.
Equipment and operator fees are handled by inquiry, so ask about them when you call. Let the booth team know in advance if you plan to share a slide deck or video, so they can test it before your guests arrive.
Planning checklist for your Margate event
- Write down your format: lecture rows, conference tables, or a mix with breakout time.
- Estimate attendance high, then choose the room (50 auditorium-style in the Multipurpose Room, 275 in the Main Auditorium).
- Call Jim Wood at 954-566-2868 to check dates, walk through policies and get a quote.
- Decide if you need projection, a microphone, recording or streaming, and ask about the booth team.
- Plan refreshments around the kitchen: coffee, chilled trays, microwave-ready lunches.
- Send attendees the address, 4849 N. Dixie Highway, Oakland Park, with the route from Margate and a note about parking.
- Set up sign-in in the Welcome Lobby so the meeting room stays quiet.
- Schedule a walk-through of the room a week or two out.
When to book: fall and winter class season
Fall and winter are when many education programs build out their calendars. If you run a series of workshops, ask about several dates in one conversation rather than one at a time, so the whole series lands in the same room.
Association boards should check dates for annual meetings as soon as the bylaws deadline is known, since notice periods leave little room to move. To see what else is happening at the Center on a given week, look at the events calendar.
Parking and arrival for guests coming from Margate
The on-site lot holds up to 150 vehicles, which covers most seminars and annual meetings without anyone circling the block. Guests walk straight from the lot into the Welcome Lobby, where the Guest Services desk is a natural spot for name tags and handouts.
For older attendees, a clear arrival note helps: the street address, the turn off Commercial Boulevard and a reminder to bring reading glasses for the slides. Carpools from the same condo or HOA also make the trip easier.
Who runs the venue, and what else is nearby
The venue belongs to the Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale, a spiritual community that welcomes events of every kind and every background. Your workshop does not need to be spiritual in any way. You can get to know the Center or see the community partners it works with.
Planning from a neighboring city? See our guides to event space near Coconut Creek, a venue near Tamarac and meeting rooms near North Lauderdale, or the Broward County event venue guide.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the venue from Margate?
The Center for Spiritual Living at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park is about 8.7 miles from central Margate, typically about 16 minutes by car. The usual route uses West Atlantic Boulevard, Lyons Road, Northwest 31st Avenue and Commercial Boulevard. Times are typical estimates and traffic varies.
How many guests can the Center for Spiritual Living hold?
The Main Auditorium seats up to 275 auditorium-style or 110 for a seated dinner. The Multipurpose Room holds 70 cocktail-style, 50 auditorium-style or 40 conference-style. The Welcome Lobby holds up to 200 cocktail-style.
Can we project slides, stream or record our event?
Yes. The Main Auditorium has a professional sound and video booth with projection, streaming capabilities and a presidential teleprompter, staffed by the Center’s team. Equipment and operator fees are by inquiry, so ask Jim Wood when you call.
Are tables, chairs and linens included?
Yes. Room rentals include tables, chairs and basic linens, and the Multipurpose Room also includes a whiteboard and 50 banquet chairs. The Main Auditorium adds 275 banquet chairs and place settings for 200.
What is the difference between a meeting room and a conference room?
A meeting room is a general-purpose space that can be set many ways, such as rows, a U-shape or small groups. A conference room usually means a table setup where everyone sits facing each other for discussion. The Multipurpose Room can work as either: 40 conference-style or 50 auditorium-style.
How big should a 20-person conference room be?
For 20 people, choose a room rated for more than 20 at conference tables so there is space for laptops, handouts and a presenter. The 1,026-square-foot Multipurpose Room seats 40 conference-style, so a group of 20 has plenty of elbow room plus a whiteboard.
How do I get a rental quote and check dates?
Pricing is by inquiry. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868 for availability and a quote, or send a message through the contact page.
Ready to see the room before you commit? Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868 to set up a tour, or send us a note with your date and headcount. You can also review the full Oakland Park venue rental details before you call.
