EDUCATION, HOSPITALITY

Cuyahoga Community College Hospitality Management Center
and Pura Vida

The design embraces the raw nature of the existing space with a restrained and legible insertion of natural materials and thoughtful lighting.
—Always By Design

Cuyahoga Community College’s Hospitality Management Center (HMC) activates downtown Cleveland’s Public Square with a fresh culinary experience. HMC is an inviting community nexus that appeals to a wide audience through the art of cooking. Interested in finding a balance between the rich memory of the former department store structure and the contemporary aesthetic of the culinary program and restaurant, the design embraced the raw nature of the existing space with a legible insertion of new materials, careful lighting and vibrant colors.

The storefront celebrates and clearly communicates the activities within–both through its transparency and projection-screen-glazing that allow viewers on Public Square to be voyeurs in the culinary experience. The lobby serves double function as a demonstration kitchen where professors and celebrity chefs put on inspiring culinary shows. The lobby also serves as a direct link between HMC and the adjacent private restaurant, Pura Vida, with a vertical-lift wall that combines the two spaces for special events. A wall of glass permits views into Pura Vida’s kitchen allowing students and visitors to see the culinary process in action.

Additional program includes teaching kitchens, classrooms, offices, and a community-focused conference center. As a space that engages students, culinary professionals, and restaurant-goers alike, HMC demystifies the art of cooking through actively celebrating a shared human experience.