Foodservice Equipment & Supplies named the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University the recipient of its 2024 Facility Design Project of the Year Award.
The Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University in Auburn, Ala. Photo by Jonathan Hillyer Photography Inc.“Overall, the judges felt this was a complete project that not only checked every box but it also left no questions unanswered. The project team put in a lot of time and effort studying this project and it shows by how thoroughly the project met its objectives,” says Joe Carbonara, FE&S editorial director. “Overall, it’s rare to see a university develop a facility like this that can rival some of the big name culinary schools. And the proof is in all of the high-level accreditations the facility received and the fact that students from this program are quickly employed.”
Key members of the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center project team include:
- Dean, College of Human Sciences: Susan Hubbard, Ed.D.
- Department head, Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management: Martin O’Neill, Ph.D.
- Commercial operations: Ithaka Hospitality Partners
- CEO: Hans van der Reijden
- Managing partner, room & spa operations: Paul Reggio
- Managing partner: Adam Keeshan
- Managing partner, culinary operations: Leonardo Maurelli III
- Chef de cuisine, 1856 – Culinary Residence: Thomas Baco-Wang
- Chef in residence, 1856 – Culinary Residence: Ford Fry
- General manager, The Laurel Hotel: Josh Head
- Spa director, The Laurel Hotel: Chandra Perry
- Executive chef: Amanda Trawick
- Mentor and advisor: Horst Schulze, co-founder of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, School of Hospitality Management benefactor, and Ithaka Hospitality Partners executive advisor
- Architect: Cooper Carry, Atlanta; Brian Campa, AIA, LEED AP, principal; Chrissy Perez, NCARB, LEED AP, project manager
- Interior design: The Johnson Studio, a division of Cooper Carry, Atlanta
- Foodservice consultants: Ricca Design Studios, Greenwood Village, Colo.: Phillip Landgraf, FCSI, executive principal; Garret Sletten, project director
- Culinary consultant: Lawrence McFadden, CMC, ECM
- Equipment dealer: Mobile Fixture & Equipment Co., Mobile, Ala.
- Construction: Bailey-Harris Construction Co., Auburn, Ala.
In addition, FE&S judges recognized the efforts of the team from The Cunningham Center and MidAmerican Nazarene University with an honorable mention in this year’s competition. “This facility set out to become heart of the campus and serve as a gathering place for this community and it did just that. Overall, the facility was right-sized for culinary as well as staffing,” Carbonara adds.
The 2024 Facility Design Project of the Year Award was selected by a panel of judges including Bill Davis of Edward Don & Company, Stuart Davis of Stuart Davis Design, Beth Kuczera of Equipment Dynamics and Chris Wair of Reitano Design Group.
FE&S will present the project team from Auburn with their award on Saturday, May 18, 2024, as part of its 2024 Dealer of the Year & All-Industry Awards Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.
FE&S is able to present its 2024 Dealer of the Year & All-Industry Awards Gala thanks to the support of its platinum sponsors: Ali Group, Alto-Shaam, Middleby and Welbilt, as well as the gold sponsors.
FE&S Dealer of the Year & All-Industry Awards Gala recognizes the foodservice community’s brightest stars by presenting them with some of the industry’s most time-honored awards, including the FE&S Dealer of the Year Award, Hall of Fame Award, Top Achievers and DSR of the Year.
Anyone interested in learning more about the 2024 Dealer of the Year & All-Industry Awards Gala should contact Maureen Slocum at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
