Tait Preserve

Tait Preserve is a natural setting and event venue operated by Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Penfield, New York. Its main bookable space is Leenhouts Lodge, a timber-frame building set among wooded hills, open fields and water. The lodge offers 4,500 square feet of indoor space and can accommodate up to 100 guests, with parking available on site.

Organisers can enquire about using the lodge for department retreats, conferences, workshops, strategic planning sessions, meetings, meals and other special events. The space can be arranged in different configurations to suit the format, and audiovisual equipment is available for presentations and other media needs. RIT Catering is the preferred provider for food and drink at the lodge, with standard menus and options for a tailored menu.

The venue has an important booking restriction: rental is available to members of the RIT community and organisations with an existing academic or business relationship with RIT. An affiliated person must be named on the contract and attend the event. Weddings have an additional eligibility condition: the person getting married must be the parent, sibling or child of the RIT-affiliated individual. Visits are by appointment or reservation only, so organisers should make an enquiry before planning a site visit.

Alongside its event use, the 177-acre preserve supports RIT research, environmental education and agricultural activity. Its lakeside and woodland surroundings offer a distinctive backdrop for gatherings, while the lodge provides a practical indoor base for meetings and presentations.