Dock5

I was at Dock5 for a Halloween party this year, but I am only reviewing the venue space here.
There isn’t much to say other than it is a great space. It is clean and great location at Union Market on the back side. There is only one small bathroom that I saw, so that could be an issue for a more packed event.

I’ve been to a handful of events at Dock 5 at Union Market and it it the perfect place for a large group of people. It’s definitely a very clean/​basic space which allows it to take on the character of any event held here. Plenty of room for bars, food tables, seating, music, dancing, etc. One of my favorite things about Dock 5 is that there is indoor and outdoor space with big garage doors that open up to the outside.
Free parking at Union Market is a huge bonus, as well as plenty of bike parking. If you’re invited to an event here, you should definitely attend. I haven’t been disappointed yet!

We attended the Get Around DC event. The outside area was creatively decorated with turf grass. VIPs received drinks outside while we waited to enter. The staff did a great job at explaining how Get Around works. The venue was great for a large event. There were approx 1800 people in attendance. The DJ did a great job. The outside patio allowed quieter conversation and access to the food trucks. There was a roped off area with additional seating and space to show movies. The space is bare but is perfect for several bars and a large crowd.

This is a great spot for events. Dock5 has high ceilings, a vast amount of space, indoor/​outdoor seating and bonus bistro lighting. After dabbling and working in events for the past couple of years, these are great features that would help any large event come to life.
I just attended the DC Lamb Jam at Dock5 and was blown away by how beautiful it was set up and just how much space there was for not only the food and booze to be set up, but how much room there was to wonder from station to station without a crowd forming.
I wouldn’t suggest this for a small scale event, but for a larger event this location is a modern space that could easily be transformed to exude personal details and become an intimate spot.
My only small complaint is that we couldn’t find it at first! That could be because we had never been to Union Market so we didn’t know where we were going. A small thing of note in the grand scheme of positive attributes.
I hope to have another reason to come back to Dock5 soon!

Boasting over 13,000 square feet, 22′ high ceilings, glass garage doors and eclectic industrial details Dock5 seems to balance utility and urban cool in a large, versatile open space.
Located directly above Union Market, the space is a plus in that it grants event attendees free parking via the lot at Neal Place, decent amount of bike rack space (but can get crowded depending on what else is going on) and a reasonable 5 minute walk from the Metro.
I came here for an event yesterday and enjoyed myself. My only complaint, however, is that there are barely any markings indicating WHERE dock5 is.
It’s as though you’re on a secret quest to find the mysterious entrance that is nothing more than an unmarked stairwell at the end of Union Market (the part across from Gallaudet University at Neal Pl and 6 Street NE), or you can enter dockside from behind Union Market. From what I’m told there’s some markings on the side of the building along 5^th street, but what would be VERY useful is if they put a sign on the stairwell and another sign directly in front of Union Market pointing to the entrance of Dock5. If you’re considering holding an event here, be sure to bring PLENTY of signage and put some staff members out in front of union market to help direct people because otherwise your guests will make the maze inside of Union Market and annoy an Union Market employee, asking them for the 5^th time that day, «Could you tell me how to get to Dock5?»