Smith & Company Architects :: Projects
University of Houston
Conrad N. Hilton College, Classroom Renovations
Completed: June 2006
Size: aprox. 3,700 square feet combined
Scope:The Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management was established in 1969 to meet the demand for professional training in the increasingly complex hospitality industry. Guests, faculty and students share a facility that provides 40,000 square feet of meeting space, 22 meeting rooms, three ballrooms, fine dining in Eric's restaurant, specialty dinners in Barron's restaurant (prepared by students of the college), 85 guest rooms and 6 suites.
The Hilton University of Houston Hotel and Conference Center is an integral part of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. The hotel and college share buildings, facilities and many resources making it easier for students to work in and for the hotel, and for faculty to incorporate hotel operations into the classroom. The College has received over $40 million in support from the Hilton Foundation.
The facility is currently undergoing renovations to improve and modernize the college's overall image. Smith & Company Architects has recently completed designs on three renovation projects throughout the building.
Smith & Company was in charge of project management, design, and budget management. One classroom was a demonstration kitchen (Food Prep Lab), which needed a modernization for television cooking sessions. The Food Prep Lab needed to maintain a serious learning environment for the students, as well as providing an efficient and effective audio/visual instructional atmosphere for the professors. The 1,850 sq ft classroom included high-end finishes and technological upgrades such as laptop connections at each seat.