Preserving historical elements while simultaneously adding modern-day conveniences and luxuries, Texas A&M University's Sbisa Dining Center, College Station, looks to the future of food service and campus lifestyles.
Since 1913, Sbisa Dining Center has been providing services to students and visitors. With the center's recently completed renovation, service will continue with a more modern approach. Historically, the center has been used as a mess hall for about 2,000 cadets. Even though it was not viewed as an architectural monument, it did have the reputation as the largest unobstructed dining room in the world.
As a major source of income for the university's food-service department, the renovation had to be scheduled around campus activities in order to remain open as much as possible. The master-planned project was phased over several years in order to meet those requirements.
A new access ramp was added to meet ADA requirements for the facility. New or updated equipment included mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, kitchen exhaust and fire-sprinkler systems. An area also was sectioned off for special functions such as meetings, banquets or study halls. Some of the added benefits of the renovation are display cooking, prepared-to-order meals and European market concepts.
Architect for the project is EDI Architecture, Inc. (Houston).
For more information on these projects and others, visit www.schooldesigns.com.
