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.
Since 2011, HOPKINS has been working on and off with Pritzker Prize winner Maki and Associates and FXFowle Architects to provide the United Nations with planning options. Maki’s design incorporates a dramatic setback with a green roof that contributes to the ambiance of the dining room with its stunning views of Manhattan and a roof garden. The Consolidation Building is to achieve LEED Gold certification.
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.
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.