Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Stanford University: Florence Moore Dining Hall

  • 05/01/15
Stanford University: Florence Moore Dining Hall

PHOTOS © KEITH UYEDA

Completed in the summer of 2014, the renovation of Stanford University’s Florence Moore Dining Hall servery brought to life the vision of Shirley J. Everett, senior associate vice provost of Residential & Dining Enterprises, “to create a unique design which enhances the student living-and-learning experience with an equally innovative, educational and sustainable dining experience.”

The 58-year-old Florence Moore facility consists of seven co-ed residence houses that encourage communal living and dining. The renovation of the 13,576-squarefoot central dining kitchen included a dramatic transformation to an open kitchen design, containing state-of-the-art, energy-efficient equipment to maximize the kitchen’s functionality and the culinary team’s talents, while inviting students into the entire cooking experience.

“I am extremely proud of the newly renovated dining hall which has enhanced our student dining program and set a new standard for exceptional culinary experiences, community building opportunities and an unprecedented design for students to dine together and build a vibrant community,” says R&DE Stanford Dining’s executive director, Eric Montell.

In keeping with the original design intent of “California Living” and to create a modern, open feel, the clerestory in the servery and kitchen was opened up to let in more natural light. A 10-seat chef’s table, made from reclaimed 100-year-old teak railroad ties, sits near a newly exposed window and is used for chef’s dinners, providing restaurantstyle dining options and additional community building opportunities for students.

An outdoor chef’s courtyard kitchen with a hearth deck oven and dual wood- and gas-fired grill next to an herb and vegetable garden was included in the design.

These features were strategically and purposefully located throughout the kitchen, servery and outdoor courtyard to allow students to thrive in an atmosphere that fosters community, encourages intellectual and social engagement and provides high-quality culinary experiences throughout the dining hall.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.