Auburn University Culinary Science Center Receives Construction Excellence Award

Program management firm HPM recently announced that one of its recent projects—the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University—has been recognized by the South Atlantic Chapter of Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) as a 2023 Project Achievement Award winner. A news release reports that the Project Achievement Awards are intended to highlight exemplary projects completed by construction and program managers around the nation.

The 142,000-square-foot complex offers active and immersive learning opportunities for hospitality and culinary-science students. Amenities include training kitchens and restaurants, a retail food hall, a boutique hotel, and labs. The first floor of the building also features a tasting-menu teaching restaurant called 1856. HPM’s involvement in the project began in 2019.

The news release reports that the Culinary Science Center was one of 36 projects in the region to receive an award based on “its commitment to program management excellence, innovation, and resilience in completing the project with minimal setbacks or disruptions.”

“I am immensely proud of my team at HPM for their dedication to ensuring this state-of-the-art learning facility was delivered to Auburn without delay and in a cost-effective manner,” said Ryan Austin, HPM President. “This award is a true testament to our ability to think outside of the box within our industry and achieve the best results possible for our clients, no matter the circumstances. We thank Auburn for their invaluable partnership, as well as CMAA for recognizing our team’s hard work.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • UCF Modernizes College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., recently completed a major renovation effort for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, according to a news release. The project modernized 77,600 square feet worth of academic classrooms, teaching labs, and collaborative spaces to support both students and faculty.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey

    Spaces4Learning recently launched the 2026 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey, which collects data on the previous year’s K–12 and higher education construction projects nationwide.

  • UPenn Announces Completion of New Veterinary Education Facility

    The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn., recently finished construction on an 11,800-square-foot veterinary education building, according to a news release. The Gail P. Riepe Center for Advanced Veterinary Education is the first dedicated classroom facility at the New Bolton Center, a large-animal hospital and campus about 35 miles west of the campus proper.