JUNE 2017 • FOODSERVICE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES • 73
KRAMER DINING CENTER'S
HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME
EXPERIENCE
facility design
p r o j e c t o f t h e m o n t h
W
ith enrollment rising, Kansas State University
in Manhattan, Kan., needed to add a new resi-
dence hall to its sprawling 556-acre campus,
which houses nine academic colleges. The
existing dining center, located on the west side of campus in
the Kramer Complex, was 60 years old and not large enough
to serve additional students. Also, the straight-line servery
concept was no longer appropriate to meet contemporary
menu and serving requirements. Due to age and size, a
renovation of the existing space was not possible.
The project's many facets include a 540-bed,
129,000-square-foot residence hall named Wefald Hall, a
dining center named Kramer Dining Center and Corner-
stone Coffee & Bakery in Wefald Hall. Kramer Dining
Center connects to Wefald, Goodnow and Marlatt residence
halls. "We built a dining center that supports community-
building in what becomes student residents' home away
Kansas State University transforms students'
expectations of college dining with custom
menu options, seating close to the culinary
action, an educational component and
late-night grab-and-go options.
By Donna Boss
Photography courtesy of Kansas State Housing and Dining Services and TreanorHL Architects