Auburn University Wellness Kitchen wins ABC Excellence in Construction Award

The Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Alabama Chapter awarded Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. (GMC), the 2014 Merit Award for the Auburn University Wellness Kitchen at its annual Excellence in Construction Banquet in Birmingham, Ala. The ABC Excellence in Construction program began 25 years ago and has since become one of the premier competitions within the construction industry that recognizes outstanding projects by Alabama contractors.

Members of the project team attribute its success to excellent collaboration among GMC’s design team, Auburn University and Bailey Harris Construction.

The Wellness Kitchen is a modern concept for healthy, campus dining, offering all-you-care-to-eat and allergy-free options. The innovative campus dining concept gives students the opportunity to build their meals and have them prepared at chef stations. Chef stations include indoor and outdoor grills, a deli station, a brick oven pizza, a carving station, a hot line with fresh meats and vegetables, a salad bar, smoothie station, and an allergy-free kitchen for students with specific dietary requirements. A registered dietitian will provide menu choices for student-athletes to help them in preparing for and recovering from competition and training, including meals which could help prevent injuries, support their immune systems and promote overall wellness for achieving peak physical condition. The Wellness Kitchen will be available to all students, and the public who are looking for healthier eating options on campus or that have special dietary needs.

The design features an outdoor elevated dining terrace and large interior windows that provides wide open views of Plainsman Park and Jordan-Hare Stadium. The interior features warm natural colors and finishes that feel nothing like standard institutional campus dining. Natural woods and stones are accented by the clean lines of the white tile and stainless horizontal surfaces. Exposed wooden trusses above support the high curved roof. Not only is it beautiful it is also functional. The new Wellness Kitchen incorporates energy efficient and sustainable materials to LEED-like standards which will make this one of the most sustainable facilities on Auburn’s campus. LEED buildings are becoming more prominent on campuses across the nation as facility managers look for ways to manage long term operational costs and create healthier environments.

The design and construction schedule was accelerated, with a wide range of GMC’s disciplines working on the project including Architecture, Interior Design, Civil Engineering, Environmental, Surveying and Landscape Architecture.