As part of a three building instructional/classroom renovation project at Henry Ford Community College, Hobbs + Black helped design and renovate the existing Culinary Arts & Student Center, Liberal Arts Building, and Learning Technology Center.

This project utilized the existing infrastructure on campus and enabled the college to better serve its students and the community. Improvements to the Culinary Arts & Student Center, originally built in 1961, provide students with a much needed academic core on campus.

Acoustic and lighting conditions in the dining hall were improved, and traffic flow patterns were defined. Renovations to the exterior were made with precast panels and brick. Skylights perch over the food court and serving area, providing a much more open, inviting feel to the building.

The interior space layouts reorganized the building around its center axis of a concourse and food court bordered by the main dining room at the east and the Gate Room restaurant to the west. To each side of this central concourse are active areas, giving a storefront feel to the streetscape design.

The facility houses the Hospitality Program, encompassing 50% of the square footage for the building. Also included in the facility are the school newspaper department, radio station, student clubs, student government, offices, storage, food service and dining halls.