Share to
Conestoga College School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts
By : Gow Hastings Architects
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Public Building / Higher Education & Research Building : Bronze Certification
Conestoga College’s John W. Tibbits Campus Expansion is an ongoing, multi-phased project that includes the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts at the College’s Waterloo Campus. Conestoga offers an entire culinary and academic experience, with a special focus on functionality, efficiency, and the aesthetics of kitchen labs, interactive culinary classrooms, student space, and food distribution. The Wing is fully outfitted with state-of-the-art stainless-steel casework and appliances, high-end AV equipment, custom-designed multi-colour backsplashes, and Corian furniture.
The expansion was purposefully designed to transform an existing high school into a new culinary hub accommodating future expansion. Working with the client, the project was designed to be phased and completed over time. Infrastructure was put in place for future photo-voltaic panels to be installed to harness energy for the building. Subsequent and current phases include a new Butchery Lab, Chocolate and Confectionary Lab.
In addition to providing an efficient, flexible, and functional environment for culinary instruction, the Bake, Culinary, and Mixology Labs offer an attractive, fresh, and inviting atmosphere that students and faculty can be proud of. A Teaching Restaurant is also part of Conestoga’s culinary program, which combines elements from culinary and hospitality labs with attention to visibility, acoustics, and lighting to create a welcoming ambiance for guests, staff and students. The teaching labs facing University Avenue provide an animated culinary performance for the public passing by. A demonstration kitchen and lecture theatre go far beyond typical requirements for capability, flexibility, and adaptability for universal access, showcasing collaborative, hands-on learning opportunities.
Careful consideration of AV technology, quiet ventilation systems, sightlines, sound-absorbing material, and custom-designed demonstration areas and equipment ensure this venue can accommodate a wide range of activities—from teaching scenarios to cooking competitions to television broadcasts. Conestoga College’s School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts new facilities showcase the culinary program as a hands-on learning experience for students entering the industry.
Collaboration
