The complete renovation of the Rock Cafe at Ferris State University transformed the facility from a traditional style cafeteria into a marketplace concept. The renovated cafe features an integrated food production and dining experience that emphasizes fresh ingredients and made-to-order preparation.
STV provided architectural, interior design and civil and structural engineering services for the renovation. One key element of the design was moving the original back-of-the-house production into several self-contained display cooking venues inside the dining area. The cafe includes new accessible ramps at various entrances, plus seating options and restrooms that are fully accessible. Sustainable elements include the exterior envelope, which was upgraded to include increased insulation and efficient glazing systems that reduce heating and energy costs. The southern façade includes extended canopies that provide shading during the hot summer months to decrease the cooling loads on the facility. Seating capacity was increased from 400 to over 640, including enclosed areas for small groups to gather.
