Foodservice Equipment & Supplies named Banyan Dining Hall at Brigham Young University – Hawaii the recipient of its 2025 Facility Design Project of the Year Award.
Photos by Monique Saenz, university photographer, University Communications“This project had a clear vision and the entire team was aligned around its objectives from start to finish,” says Joe Carbonara, FE&S editorial director. “The thoughtful and thorough design leverages the natural beauty around it to create a facility that’s second to none. During a time when things can often seem so transactional it was exciting to see a facility and team that do such a good job of creating community.”
Key members of the Banyan Dining Hall project team include:
- Brigham Young University–Hawaii
- University president: John S.K. Kauwe III
- Director of Food Services: David Keala
- Banyan Dining Hall manager: Marilou Lee
- Executive chef: President Galea’i
- Catering assistant: Chad William Tuttle
- Director of Design, Planning and Construction: James R. Brown, AIA
- Brigham Young University–Provo
- BYU managing director of Dining Services: Dean Wright (retired after the project was completed)
- Architect: CRSA, Salt Lake City; E. Benjamin Rogers, AIA, NCARB (currently at another firm)
- Interior and lighting design: CRSA, Salt Lake City
- Foodservice consultant: Porter Khouw Consulting Inc., Crofton, Md.: H. David Porter, FCSI, CEO, president; and Albin T. Khouw, senior vice president, emeritus
- Construction: Jacobsen Construction, Salt Lake City: Shawn Thomas, project director
- Equipment dealer: Restaurant & Store Equipment Co., Salt Lake City: LeGrande Steenblik, vice president
In addition, FE&S judges recognized the efforts of the team from The Colorado Convention Center with an honorable mention in this year’s competition. “Good foodservice design takes something that’s very complicated and makes it look simple. That’s exactly what the project team for The Colorado Convention Center did,” Carbonara adds.
The 2025 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 Kristin Sedej of S2O Consultants.
FE&S will present the project team from Banyan Dining Hall with their award on Saturday, May 17, 2025, as part of its 2025 Dealer of the Year & All-Industry Awards Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.
FE&S is able to present its 2025 Dealer of the Year & All-Industry Awards Gala thanks to the support of its platinum sponsors: Alto-Shaam, Middleby, Parts Town and Welbilt, an Ali Group Company.
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 2025 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..
