Best of 2012: 10 Most Notable Event Venue Openings in New York

In late January the Signature Theatre opened its new home, the Frank Gehry-designed Pershing Square Signature Center on West 42nd Street. With 70,000 square feet of contiguous space, the performance facility offers three theaters—the largest of which is the 294-seat Irene Diamond Stage (pictured)—as well as a central lobby, two rehearsal studios, and backstage support areas.

Years in the making, the Brooklyn home for the Nets basketball team was one of the largest projects to open this year. The Barclays Center officially opened in September, and the 675,000-square-foot facility houses an array of spaces for private functions and corporate entertaining, including the 6,000-seat Cushman & Wakefield Theater, a location of hip-hop mogul Jay-Z's 40/40 Club, and an 11-suite section known as the Vault.

The Conrad New York made a big splash when it finally opened in March, bringing with it 463 rooms, more than 30,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, an in-house restaurant Atrio, and a rooftop terrace with prosecco on tap. Among the areas available for events are the 6,200-square-foot Gallery ballroom, the 3,200-square-foot West ballroom, and six breakout studios ranging from 531 square feet to 1,276 square feet. Restaurateur Danny Meyer's Union Square Events is the exclusive food and beverage partner for the conference and event spaces.

When the Out NYC first opened, it garnered a considerable amount of attention for billing itself as New York's first "gay-friendly hotel."And although the boutique Midtown property only has 105 rooms, it quickly became a favorite with planners for its large spaces available for private events. These include three outdoor courtyards that can be used for semiprivate functions, including the Great Lawn (pictured), as well as the 14,000-square-foot XL Nightclub.

Aramark's United Nations Catering officially opened the Ambassadors River View at the United Nations in late April, providing a new space for events on the grounds of the international organization's New York headquarters. Set up on the U.N.'s North Lawn, the 5,800-square-foot clear-span tent and adjacent open-air promenade is available for receptions as well as seated functions and can also be combined with private, 30-minute tours of the General Assembly and Security Council for 20 people at a time.

Joining the growing number of properties in the corridor between the Flatiron district and Midtown is the NoMad Hotel, which opened in April. Situated in a restored Beaux-Arts building, the site has more than 4,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the Parlour (pictured) and the Johnston room, which has an outdoor terrace. For smaller groups, both the Fireplace and Cupola rooms offer semiprivate dining for as many as 12 people. With interiors by French designer Jacques Garcia, the 168-room property is outfitted with reclaimed maple hardwood floors, velvet and damask furnishings, and Parisian artwork.

With the February opening of the Tryp Times Square South, the first Tryp by Wyndham property in the United States, came another hotel option near the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The 173-room property offers nearly 1,200 square feet of meeting and function space that holds as many as 70 people theater-style. Near the lobby (pictured), dubbed Plaza Central, is a private library that seats 20. Amenities include free high-speed Internet, audiovisual equipment, and on-site catering services.

Designed with an eye to design as well as functionality, Midtown meeting space OffSite debuted in July with 4,200 square feet of space, three levels, and on-site technology like a digital smart board and live camera feed capabilities. The main level is outfitted for more casual gatherings with lounge-like configurations of furniture, while the mezzanine has a more formal boardroom-style setup. The lower level is an open plan space that can be configured with classroom-style seating or used for intimate receptions.

Opened in April, the New York location of popular restaurant Hakkasan sits one block west of Times Square. The 200-seat eatery, which was awarded a star by the Michelin Guide, offers an 11,000-square-foot space designed by the same team that worked on the Miami and Abu Dhabi outposts. For groups, there's an area known as the Center Cage dining room that seats 30, as well as a semiprivate section (pictured) that seats 12.

The January debut of Danny Meyer's North End Grill added a downtown location to the restaurateur's portfolio of fine-dining restaurants. The 140-seat eatery, dubbed North End Grill for its physical address and cuisine focus, was designed by architecture firm Bentel & Bentel and offers a seafood-centric menu from executive chef and partner Floyd Cardoz.