As a consultant to URS Corporation, HOPKINS designed a new 25,000 square foot dining hall to serve up to 3,000 soldiers 22 hours a day. When the budget for this project was slashed, HOPKINS was sent to Djibouti to survey surplus foodservice equipment in storage to identify pieces that could be salvaged to allow the project to proceed through construction.
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.
This Design Excellence project, won as a joint venture by The Kling Lindquist Partnership and RTKL in 1993, lasted for well over a decade. As the number of employees transferred into the facility grew to more than 6,000, so did the need for multiple food outlets, which today range in size from grab-n-goes to full-service cafeterias. The availability of five points of service keeps employees from traveling to local strip centers for lunch. The kitchen’s large catering area supports a full FDA event schedule.
A new staff café within walking distance of a plethora of foodie options for employees of Discovery Communications’ world headquarters gives them a home of their own. DCI's goal in commissioning this project was to create an aesthetically pleasing cafeteria that reflects positively on the Discovery brand while satisfying their employees’ need for a place to grab a quick breakfast or lunch. Mission accomplished.