National Cancer Institute
Because poor diet and obesity are causal factors for various forms of cancer and many other diseases, when the National Cancer Institute, was given an opportunity to plan its first in-house cafeteria, they took the project very seriously. HOPKINS was brought in to perform an extensive planning effort. NCI wanted to provide an environment in which visitors and staff could make optimal food choices, model behaviors that reduce risk for cancer and other diseases, and increase wellness. The healthy choice was to be the easy choice.
Related Work
Planning
The New York Times. Construction of the newspaper company’s latest home meant that, in place of the antiquated cafeteria and executive dining room, a new and improved foodservice system could be designed not only to serve as an exciting gathering place but also as an in-house conference center, which would save thousands of dollars in off-site event fees. During a three-month planning study, HOPKINS conducted extensive interviews in every department of the Times company to learn its culture and needs before we prepared the comprehensive predesign foodservice plan.
Design
Dickstein Shapiro moved into International Square on K Street in Washington, D.C. An aspect of the renovation of the space formerly occupied by the IMF was to gut and redesign its cafeteria. This in-house cafeteria needed to compete successfully with a large public food court on the ground floor. To maximize the benefit of the Dickstein Shapiro foodservice system, HOPKINS was asked to lead the search for a full-time operator. When the project was in full-swing, the client expressed its delight that the entire spectrum of employees from top attorneys to admin assistants at Dickstein Shapiro enjoyed dining together for the first time. The cafeteria successfully changed the culture of the firm.
Design
Renzo Piano’s award-winning tower was fit out by Gensler and includes a major transformation of the Times’ old food service system. A full-service catering kitchen also was designed for the Times Center for in-house use and for commercial caterers.
