Foodservice Equipment & Supplies named the Dining and Community Commons at Swarthmore College the recipient of its 2026 Facility Design Project of the Year Award.
“Among a very field of best-in-class design projects, the judges felt this one truly stood out,” says Joe Carbonara, FE&S editorial director. “The project team clearly did its homework by collecting student data and input, conducting thorough energy analysis and more. The resulting clearly defined vision and top-notch execution led to the Dining and Community Commons at Swarthmore College earning FE&S 2026 Facility Design Project of the Year Award.”
Some key members of the Banyan Dining Hall project team include:
- Director, Dining Services: Linda McDougall
- Associate director: Rich Green
- Executive chef: Thomas Ramsey
- Sous chef: Lauren White
- Retail manager: Tim Smith
- Associate vice president, Sustainable Facilities Operations: Andy Feick
- Architects: DLR Group
- Foodservice design: Ricca Design Studios, Greenwood Village, Colo.; Tarah Schroeder, FCSI, LEED AP, vice president; Lona Homersham, director; Amanda Perlmutter, director
- Foodservice planning: Envision Strategies: Rob White, president, Envision Strategies, New Cumberland, Penn.
- Kitchen equipment contractor: Clark Foodservice Equipment, Lancaster, Penn.: Ryan Tiburtini, sales executive; Justin Cisney, project manager lead; Jesse Hudock, project manager; Eric Haws, site supervisor; Steve Young, field coordinator
- Structural engineer: O’Donnell & Naccarato Structural Engineers, New York
In addition, FE&S judges recognized the efforts of the team from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana with an honorable mention in this year’s competition. “From cost-savings to the application of leading-edge technologies, this project checked a lot of boxes and, in doing so, lowered operating costs for this non-profit,” Carbonara added.
The 2026 Facility Design Project of the Year Award was selected by a panel of judges including Gordon Marsh of Edward Don & Company, Beth Kuczera of Equipment Dynamics and Chris Wair of the Reitano Design Group.
FE&S will present the project team from Swarthmore College with their award on Saturday, May 16, 2026, as part of its 2026 Dealer of the Year & All-Industry Awards Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.
FE&S is able to present its 2026 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.
