To accommodate the renovation of their dining hall, The Hotchkiss School needed to find a temporary home for kitchen and dining operations. After the original planned location fell through, the 20,000-square-foot Ford Tennis Center was chosen for temporary conversion. Our team needed to be strategic, as the space was planned to be disassembled and returned to its former use within 1-2 years following the completion of the permanent Dining Hall. This meant that all construction had to be completed without damaging the existing building, including the tennis court floor.
The biggest hurdle was that the space needed to be permitted, designed, and constructed in just over three months. To realize this formidable task, the School paired edmSTUDIO with Burlington Construction and Colliers (Project Manager) in a collaborative effort with School personnel. The design began in late September, and with everyone’s hard work and efforts, food was being served upon the students’ return in early January.
A 6,000-square-foot temporary kitchen was added in the form of trailers and a site-built connector. A new entrance was created to allow easier access to the space. Tabled seating was designed for 400 using the existing dining hall tables and chairs. The servery and associated equipment were relocated. A new lounge space was added to attract students, including soft seating, booth seating, high-top tables and chairs, game tables, and a performance stage. edmSTUDIO coordinated the selection and procurement of all new furniture.
Despite the challenges encountered, the collaborative efforts of the entire project team and School personnel ensured that the space was ready for students by early January. This successful and strategic transformation maintained the integrity of the existing building and provided a functional dining area for the School’s temporary use.
