MidAmerica Nazarene University- Olathe, KS

Starting in 2016, MidAmerica Nazarene University embarked on a journey that would change the face of their campus forever. Previously functioning without a student center on campus since its inception in 1966, they set out to create the Cunningham Center – the heart and soul of student life at MNU.

This newly and thoughtfully created 50,000 square feet, state-of-the-art facility is designed to cater to the needs of students, providing them with study areas, collaboration rooms, recreational space, and social areas. With flexible dining spaces that accommodate both residential and commuter students, the Cunningham Center is the perfect place for learning, growing, and coming together as a community, truly making this hub of activity the beating heart of this vibrant college community.

The new servery area highlights Pioneer College Caterers commitment to culinary excellence. This versatile space allows for the seamless execution of various menus and encourages the dining team to introduce new and exciting cuisines. By offering authentic ethnic options the community embraces cultural diversity and expands the horizons of guests palates.

The use of curved counters in the design promotes a seamless flow in the serving areas. Each concept is strategically separated to accommodate line queuing, ensuring efficient service even during peak lunch hours. Collaborating with the interiors team at PGAV, there were curved soffits incorporated along with the counters, not only to enhance lighting but also to create a visually appealing contrast to the ceiling tiles. The combination of blue ceramic wall tiles, wood accents, and clean laminates creates a vibrant and welcoming environment for students.

The implementation of an open kitchen concept enables the chef to efficiently oversee all stations and assign staff to busy areas, ultimately reducing service times. By integrating these concepts, there is a seamless ability to share staff, resulting in decreased labor requirements.

DETAILS

Location: Olathe, Kansas
Opening Date: March 2022
Equipment Cost: $1,600,000
Servery: 3,500 SF
Dining Area: 4,400 SF
BOH: 4,250 SF

SCOPE

A 50,000-square-foot student center that houses the only dining center on campus. The center also contains a coffee shop, campus store, student lounge, two conference rooms and a sun lounge.

“frk has had the good fortune to with Rippe Associates for more than 20 years on many projects together. Our focus is the K-12 market and we have always appreciated the deep knowledge base, attention to detail, and extensive experience the team at Rippe Associate provides for educational design. We have also greatly valued the professional, yet personal approach, their designers take with our clients. When working with Rippe, we are always confident the project will be a success!”

Thomas C. Wollan, AIA, LEED AP

Partner at frk architects + engineers

“When it comes to dietary planning, Rippe is always first on my list when team building. They have a strong understanding of all the issues, are creative problem solvers, and are consistent with their execution.”

Daniel J. Rectenwald, AIA, ACHA, NCARB

Vice President, Principal at HGA

"The development of Elmhurst Hospital’s replacement campus was complex. The Rippe team supported our vision to transform healthcare foodservice. The result was exceptional reviews from our patients and staff, along with a facility that supported efficient operations."

David E. Reeves

Past President of the Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF)

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