Auburn University Completes Construction on Culinary Science Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/23/23

Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., recently celebrated the grand opening of the Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, according to a news release. The 142,000-square-foot facility plays home to learning environments combined with a luxury hotel, restaurant, dining hall, and more. The university partnered with HPM for program management services.

The news release reports that the new facility offers hands-on learning experiences for the university’s hospitality and culinary science students. It includes Class-A training kitchens; labs; a brewery; a retail food hall; and 1856, a tasting-menu-only teaching restaurant. Construction began in 2019.

“We have had a wonderful experience working with Auburn University Facilities Management to bring this one-of-a-kind hospitality learning environment to life,” said Ryan Austin, HPM President. “The strong relationships we have formed with our partners have driven home success for this project and kept us focused throughout every step, even as we faced a global pandemic. This is another successful project that we are pleased to add to our portfolio of high-profile hospitality and higher-education initiatives across the Southeast.”

HPM’s preconstruction and construction services entailed working with design teams to make sure preliminary plans lined up with the project’s budget and timeline. HPM also coordinated communication between all partners and subcontractors to make sure the project’s timing was on track. Another part of the project was the construction of a six-story, $10-million nearby parking deck before work on the culinary center began in earnest.

“I am proud of our team’s dedication to collaboration and preplanning, which ultimately led to a smooth transition between each phase of the project lifecycle,” said Caleb Camp, HPM Operations Manager. “This facility is a trailblazer in both the hospitality and higher education industries, providing a range of training opportunities that are not offered at other institutions in the country. HPM’s expertise in owner’s representation and construction management maintained cost efficiency and ensured this project was completed to Auburn University’s high standard of excellence.”

The university also partnered with architecture and design firm Cooper Carry, as well as general contractor Bailey-Harris Construction, according to the press release.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Integrates New Cleaning Technology

    The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently installed a new cleaning system designed to improve cooling efficiency on campus, according to a news release. The Facilities Management’s Utilities and Energy Management Unit installed new chiller tubes into two of the chillers at the university’s Central Utility Plant.

  • Agualta STEAM Engine

    Outdoor Learning Spaces and Biophilic Design Create Community in East Los Angeles

    Griffith STEAM Magnet Middle School's Agualta STEAM Engine blends education, community, and nature through its adaptable design.

  • Key Considerations for Office-to-Higher-Education Facility Conversions

    Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, office-to-alternative-use conversions have become a recurring subject of urban development discourse. Office utilization rates across major U.S. cities remain below 50%, with vacancy rates exceeding 27% in San Francisco and 16% in New York. Higher education facilities present programmatic and spatial use cases that align readily with the typical characteristics of commercial office buildings.

  • Singlewire Software Report Reveals Gaps in K–12 School Entrance Security

    Single Software recently released its first-ever School Entrance Security Report based on more than 500 responses from U.S. school staff members. According to a news release, the findings highlight a gap between K–12 leaders’ wishes for school safety and how safe the schools actually are, as well as the challenges facing students and staff in that goal.

Digital Edition