PROJECT Culinary Arts Center

LOCATION  Largo, Maryland US

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  4/9/2018

ARCHITECT  Grimm + Parker Architects

ASSOCIATED ARCHITECT/DESIGNER  

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Melanie Hennigan, Bridget Ahmad, Anthony Lucarelli, Antonio Rebelo, Kerry Hill, Hunter Dyas, Patrick Byrne

OWNER/CLIENT Prince George's Community College

CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Coakley & Williams

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Bradley Site Design

PHOTOGRAPHER  Jeffrey Sauers Photography, Yulia Parr, Matthew Borkoski Photography

CIVIL ENGINEER AB Consultants
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Columbia Engineering Inc.
MECHANICAL ENGINEER BKM Engineers
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER BKM Engineers
CONSULTANT Birchfield Jacobs, Culinary Consultant
CONSULTANT PLDA, Interior Designer
CONSULTANT Forella Group, Cost Estimating
CONSULTANT Sustainable Design Consulting, LEED Consultant
CONSULTANT Unlimited Systems Support Inc., Technology
CONSULTANT WFT, Plumbing Engineers
CONSULTANT
CONSULTANT
CONSULTANT
CONSULTANT

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  

Cooking Up Excitement! A New Culinary Arts Center for Prince George’s Community College

There is no other experience that is more human and differentiates us from all other species, like preparing a cooked a meal. Along with plenty of excitement and hope for the future, the aroma of fresh-baked goods and exotic cuisines filled the air on opening day at Prince George’s Community College’s new 21,500 sf Culinary Arts Center.

As the hospitality industry is growing in Prince Georges County and across Maryland, the new PGCC Culinary Arts Center is a unique facility that responds directly to the local workforce needs. Students at the new facility are now able to receive hands-on training with three instructional restaurant-scale kitchens, a beverage management lab, and event space.

Part of the project vision was to invite and grow community engagement with business and industry partners as well as the community at large. Therefore, functions were included that can help achieve this goal while generating revenue to sustain the facility and programs. These functions include a Community Kitchen, a 50 seat Multi-purpose Meeting / Dining Room, and a high-grade Demonstration Kitchen.

Creating a sensory experience for everyone, the college stays true to its role in serving the community. Home cooks are invited to build their skills and whet their palate in the community kitchen through offerings of roasting, baking, and wine-pairing classes; making this Culinary Arts Center a place where workforce development, continuing education, and personal enrichment intersect

The design embraced “cooking on display” by locating the project at a prominent campus entry point which announces itself with an exuberant “porch”. Given the goal to create a landmark presence, the double height, front-of house volume is defined by glass curtain walls, and a dramatic roof form with expressive structural elements. This formal gesture with such transparency provides a striking image to all who approach the facility by car or on foot, while displaying the activities and features within. Also, on display along the Outer Loop Road are the teaching kitchens, with their sparkling, stainless steel finishes.

Although practical and professional, these kitchens are visually rich and bustling with activity when in use. The pedestrian plaza at the building experience supports a complete user experience with accommodations for outdoor cooking and events. The end result is a building which is both a beacon and a showcase – attracting and inviting users while celebrating the PGCC Hospitality programs and a source of pride in the community.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project/Jury PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)

1. Exterior Front Entry View / (C)2018 MATTHEW BORKOSKI PHOTOGRAPHY
2. Exterior Night View / Jeffrey Sauers Photography
3. View of Speciality Kitchen and Main Corridor Spine / Jeffrey Sauers Photography

4. Lobby Demonstration Kitchen / Jeffrey Sauers Photography
5. Demonstration Kitchen / Yulia Parr
6. Specialty Kitchen / Jeffrey Sauers Photography
7.
8.