Hurricane Katrina gave this hospital the reason and the resources to upgrade its thirty-five-year-old, 18,000 square foot dietary department to bring it up and into the twenty-first century. Fortunately, because new equipment could be integrated into the existing utility infrastructure, the fast-track schedule was met to the satisfaction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Designed by HOK, this new research center houses international attendees and their families during extended course sessions and offers a variety of meal options in a highly sustainable fashion.
The Academies sold its historic building to move into the World Trade Center 7, the first building to replace the fallen towers. The finishing kitchen was to support New York Academies events and be used by outside organizations as well, with the idea that the space could be rented as an income generator for the organization. The Academies asked HOPKINS to perform a City-wide RFP search for the ideal caterer. The two-month process involved multiple site visits, tastings and interviews and resulted in finding a fulltime operator, rather than a part time caterer. The chosen operator brought the advantage of being able to market the venue to outside groups as well.
This once-crumbling, historic psychiatric facility was replaced by a $78 million, state-of-the-art hospital for which HOPKINS designed a 12,000 square foot central food preparation kitchen and retherm kitchens for each residential unit. Now patients can have breakfast and dinner in their “homes” and lunch “at work” in the treatment mall.