Vision 3 Architects designs new $18 million Hope Commons Dining Hall at URI

The University of Rhode Island (URI) recently opened the new Hope Commons Dining Hall, an $18 million, 42,500 s/f facility featuring a 718-seat dining hall, late night café, and retail market. Designed by Vision 3 Architects, Hope Commons is the first new dining hall on campus in 45 years and replaces the original Hope Dining Hall which was built in 1957. In Vision 3's design for the main dining facility, food is prepared in full view of the customers at four strategically-placed food venues, each with their own identity and theme. Hope Commons includes Fusion, an Asian-style pasta station; Home Style, with hot meals and entrees; Astro Grille, a retro-themed food station serving traditional grilled items, french fries, hot dogs, and hamburgers; and, Deli Creations, a hot and cold deli service where sandwiches are prepared to order. The new dining hall has an open market, restaurant feel, with fine detailing and a variety of seating options, including booths and bar counters. A 50-seat, private dining room with exterior views to the campus is located in the northeast corner. Two interior walls of the room are made of sliding doors, allowing it to be opened to the main dining hall for overflow seating. Hope Commons also includes Rhody Market, a second level, late night café offering Starbucks coffee, pizza, and Freshens smoothies and frozen treats. The seating area of the café features three window walls overlooking Butterfield Rd., the main access road through the campus residential district, as well as a unique, four-sided fireplace; soft, lounge-style seating; game tables; and, four flat screen televisions. At ground level, under Rhody Market, is the Rhody Mini Mart, which stocks convenience items, snacks, and foods for faculty, staff, students, and visitors. Vision 3 is currently pursuing "silver" certification for Hope Commons under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. The dining hall is potentially the first LEED certified building in the state of Rhode Island and only the fourth certified college dining hall in the country. The design of Hope Commons exceeds many LEED requirements and Vision 3 Architects is applying for four (4) Innovation and Design Credits for exemplary performance. The general contractor was Maron Construction About the University of Rhode Island: Based in Kingston, RI, the University of Rhode Island (URI) also maintains a marine campus, an environmental campus and conference center, and an urban campus in downtown Providence. URI has over 100 majors in seven degree-granting colleges. For more information, visit www.uri.edu. About Vision 3 Architects: Vision 3 Architects is a 30-person architectural and interior design firm located in Providence, RI that offers creative design solutions to education, hospitality, and corporate office clients throughout the Northeast. For more information about Vision 3 Architects, visit www.vision3architects.com.