CAW Architects recently completed a facility for the Oakland, Calif., school district that feeds students and teaches them how to grow, harvest, and cook produce grown onsite. The production kitchen at the Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center (“The Center”) prepares and distributes about 30,000 meals a day for district schools lacking their own kitchens.
The site also provides training for school district cafeteria workers and educational programs for students to learn about culinary arts, science, health, wellness, and agriculture. A greenhouse and demonstration garden illustrate growing cycles and how to identify different types of produce. The greenhouse produces starter plants from seed to supply about 60 school gardens. Culinary instruction takes place in a classroom outfitted with a full-service demonstration and teaching kitchen, and in an outdoor kitchen equipped with a pizza oven.
A courtyard serves as the facility’s central hub, connecting the production kitchen, indoor classrooms, and outdoor classrooms. Large glass roll-up doors open the indoors to the courtyard. An expansive wood trellis shades the courtyard and reduces glare in classrooms.
The building’s energy efficiency gets a boost from a hot water system that uses captured waste heat from a highly efficient C02 closed-loop refrigeration system. A solar-ready roof has space to support solar panels that will supply half of the production kitchen’s electric power.
The next phase of the project will use an undeveloped portion of the site to create an urban farm, community garden, and nature play space. The farm will offer career training for high school students and adult education programs.
Owner and/or developer: Oakland (Calif.) Unified School District
Design architect: CAW Architects
Architect of record: CAW Architects
MEP engineer: Integral Group
Structural engineer: SOHA Engineers
Construction manager: Cumming Group
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_01.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_02.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_03.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_04.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_05.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_06.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_07.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_08.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_09.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_10.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_11.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_12.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_13.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_14.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_15.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_16.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_17.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_18.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_19.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_20.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_21.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_22.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_23.jpg)
![Unified School District Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center by CAW Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_24.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_25.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_26.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_27.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_28.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_29.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Unified%20School%20District%20Central%20Kitchen%2C%20Instructional%20Farm%2C%20and%20Education%20Center%20TheCenter_PhotoBruceDamonte_30.jpg)
Related Stories
| Dec 28, 2010
Project of the Week: Community college for next-gen Homeland Security personnel
The College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Ill., began work on the Homeland Security Education Center, which will prepare future emergency personnel to tackle terrorist attacks and disasters. The $25 million, 61,100-sf building’s centerpiece will be an immersive interior street lab for urban response simulations.
| Dec 17, 2010
Sam Houston State arts programs expand into new performance center
Theater, music, and dance programs at Sam Houston State University have a new venue in the 101,945-sf, $38.5 million James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center. WHR Architects, Houston, designed the new center to connect two existing buildings at the Huntsville, Texas, campus.
| Dec 17, 2010
Alaskan village school gets a new home
Ayagina’ar Elitnaurvik, a new K-12 school serving the Lower Kuskikwim School District, is now open in Kongiganak, a remote Alaskan village of less than 400 residents. The 34,000-sf, 12-classroom facility replaces one that was threatened by river erosion.
| Dec 17, 2010
New engineering building goes for net-zero energy
A new $90 million, 250,000-sf classroom and laboratory facility with a 450-seat auditorium for the College of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign is aiming for LEED Platinum.
| Dec 17, 2010
How to Win More University Projects
University architects representing four prominent institutions of higher learning tell how your firm can get the inside track on major projects.
| Dec 6, 2010
Honeywell survey
Rising energy costs and a tough economic climate have forced the nation’s school districts to defer facility maintenance and delay construction projects, but they have also encouraged districts to pursue green initiatives, according to Honeywell’s second annual “School Energy and Environment Survey.”
| Nov 29, 2010
New Design Concepts for Elementary and Secondary Schools
Hard hit by the economy, new construction in the K-12 sector has slowed considerably over the past year. Yet innovation has continued, along with renovations and expansions. Today, Building Teams are showing a keener focus on sustainable design, as well as ways to improve indoor environmental quality (IEQ), daylighting, and low-maintenance finishes such as flooring.
| Nov 23, 2010
Honeywell's School Energy and Environment Survey: 68% of districts delayed or eliminated improvements because of economy
Results of Honeywell's second annual “School Energy and Environment Survey” reveal that almost 90% of school leaders see a direct link between the quality and performance of school facilities, and student achievement. However, districts face several obstacles when it comes to keeping their buildings up to date and well maintained. For example, 68% of school districts have either delayed or eliminated building improvements in response to the economic downturn.
| Nov 9, 2010
Just how green is that college campus?
The College Sustainability Report Card 2011 evaluated colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada with the 300 largest endowments—plus 22 others that asked to be included in the GreenReportCard.org study—on nine categories, including climate change, energy use, green building, and investment priorities. More than half (56%) earned a B or better, but 6% got a D. Can you guess which is the greenest of these: UC San Diego, Dickinson College, University of Calgary, and Dartmouth? Hint: The Red Devil has turned green.
| Nov 3, 2010
First of three green labs opens at Iowa State University
Designed by ZGF Architects, in association with OPN Architects, the Biorenewable Research Laboratory on the Ames campus of Iowa State University is the first of three projects completed as part of the school’s Biorenewables Complex. The 71,800-sf LEED Gold project is one of three wings that will make up the 210,000-sf complex.