Register.
Mitchell Hall, the new School of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts, provides a state-of-the-art facility that matches the excellence of Columbus State’s nationally recognized culinary program. Designed as a real-world simulation environment, the goal is to foster innovation and produce culinary and hospitality professionals of the highest caliber. With its remarkable features and level of programmatic breadth, Mitchell Hall is the first of its kind in the United States.
Spanning three floors, the building revolves around a central focal point known as the “Culinary Hub,” which serves as a gathering place for students, faculty, and visitors alike. This dynamic space showcases high-intensity culinary activities, providing an immersive experience for all. Encouraging collaboration both inside and outside the classroom, Mitchell Hall features unique informal learning areas called “Collabridges” that connect to the Culinary Hub. These spaces facilitate interaction and highlight the hospitality aspect of the curriculum, enabling students to serve as ambassadors to visitors and students from other programs.
Strategically located on the campus, Mitchell Hall enhances the vibrant atmosphere by placing high-visibility programs along the building perimeter. The design integrates ample outdoor dining, gathering, and learning spaces that seamlessly connect with interior retail areas and educational facilities. Notably, a covered outdoor classroom facing the Mount Vernon Quad and East Campus provides a versatile outdoor space. It was designed to hold outdoor cooking equipment and casual seating, for the benefit of all Columbus State students.
The building offers an impressive array of amenities, which include seven state-of-the-art teaching kitchens and research labs, a 50-seat teaching restaurant managed by students, a 20-seat student-staffed bakery, a 100-seat culinary theater, a 400-seat conference space, classrooms, and various support areas. By doubling the enrollment capacity to accommodate over 1,500 students, the new facility fosters growth and opportunity in the field of culinary arts.
Columbus State envisions the hospitality and culinary center as a catalyst for addressing issues related to nutrition, food insecurity, and community education. They also offer a variety of cooking classes for the general public in their teaching kitchens and culinary theater, taught by professional chefs.
Mitchell Hall’s design prioritizes natural light and connectivity. The Culinary Hub, a captivating three-story space with abundant skylights, serves as both the entry point and the heart of the building. Surrounding this central hub are dining areas, a bakery, and production kitchens that showcase their operations through large-scale windows. The strategic placement of windows on the upper floors allows for breathtaking views of either the surrounding landscape or the Columbus skyline. An indoor-outdoor classroom enhances the connection to the city streets and offers a welcoming social space for students. By establishing this close connection to Columbus, Mitchell Hall aims to foster pride in the city and inspire students to become active participants in the thriving culinary community upon graduation.
Mitchell Hall won an AIA Columbus Merit Award in 2023. The Design Architect is DesignGroup. Sponsored by the AIA Columbus Committee on Design.
August 8, 2024
4-5 PM
Earn 1.0 LU|HSW
AIA Members, Allied Members, and Sponsors: $10
Associate Members and Students: $5
Non-Members: $20
