El Paso Community College needed a functional and comfortable space that could accommodate their growing programs for the Culinary Arts, Restaurant Management and Pastry Chefs. PSC worked closely with the chefs and students of the program to create a one-of-a-kind culinary school, complete with offices, classes and restaurant spaces. EPCC and PSC’s aim was to create a unique environment that would cater specifically to the program’s students and welcome anyone with an interest in culinary arts.
The facility features various specialty kitchens, offices, a student resource center, a fine dining restaurant, a casual restaurant and service spaces. The Catering Kitchen is capable of serving all of the college’s catering needs, while the Demonstration Kitchen is specially equipped with a demonstration island, tiered seats and tables for taping guest chefs. Glass was utilized in the corridor walls around the kitchens to allow students and visitors to see “what’s cooking” in the classes. The program’s Dine ‘n Dash Market offers quick casual dining and pastries. The focal point of the entire space, however, is the Thirteen-09 restaurant where culinary students can serve up their masterpieces in an upscale, fine dining atmosphere.
The Culinary Arts Program Spaces is a marriage of the passion for architecture and design with the passion for food and teaching.
Project details
- Size – 22,226 SF
- Project Type – Higher Education
- Project Delivery – Method Design-Bid-Build
- Awards Caudill Merit Award – Texas Association of School Boards
- Honor Award – AIA El Paso Chapter
- Project Leadership – Hector De Santiago, AIA, CNU-A; Mary Stills, AIA, CNU-A
Window openings throughout the main corridors and central corridor frame views into all seven kitchens.
The kitchens are purposely designed for ease of use with most of the innovative finish materials going into the public spaces.
Desserts and sandwiches will fill these shelves, enhanced with specialty lighting.
