Providence, RI – To meet the much needed classroom and culinary laboratory space demands of The Hospitality College, Johnson & Wales University (JWU) selected Vision 3 Architects to assist with planning, programming and design of a 7,500-square-foot adaptive reuse renovation of the Xavier Academic Hall.
Located at the Downcity Campus of the university, the facility features four new culinary laboratories including a 1,200-square-foot kitchen lab, two 900-square-foot dining labs, and a 1,200-square-foot beverage lab. The project also included a comprehensive renovation to repurpose 4,200-square-feet of space for use as new faculty offices and meeting rooms.
Joseph Caldeira, Senior Project Manager at Vision 3 Architects said, “When we began the collaborative and inclusive planning process with the university stakeholders, we quickly determined that the needs for the project were greater than originally planned. This process enabled Vision 3 to frame a comprehensive understanding of the project needs which allowed us to deliver a design consistent with the university’s goals and objectives for The Hospitality College.”
The university’s goal is to provide students with real world industry experience. To that end, Vision 3 Architects designed lab spaces that feature real world hospitality and restaurant settings. The interior of the dining lab is designed to simulate a “high-end,” contemporary, French bistro restaurant. The space offers multiple seating arrangements enhanced by decorative lighting, and features contemporary, custom millwork including wine display cases throughout the lab.
Caldeira noted that “Green features include the use of low volatile omitting contaminants (VOC) content materials, such as the floor finishes (i.e. carpet tile, ceramic tile, resilient flooring), wall paint, and wall covering, as well as low consumption, high output light fixtures. The project team and the university chose to salvage and recycle all existing acoustical ceiling tile material during the demolition phase. We also used low consumption plumbing fixtures throughout the lab spaces.”
The Xavier Academic Hall facilities are designed to provide students with a complete restaurant experience. The Bistro Restaurant exterior design simulates a streetscape, articulated by a glass storefront and copper metal panels that enhance the restaurant identity. The kitchen lab features the latest technological advances in kitchen equipment that provide students the experience of a real world commercial kitchen operation. The project also features a new HVAC system, new energy efficient LED lighting and controls, and advanced audio and visual equipment located throughout the labs.
Vision 3 Architects completed planning, design and construction documents in a period of 10 weeks, with the entire project duration from inception of design through completion of construction spanning just 21 weeks.