North Avenue Apartments Dining Commons

Originally constructed to accommodate athletes during the 1996 Olympics, Georgia Tech's North Avenue Apartments previously suffered from a lack of distinctive identity and sense of community. A comprehensive renovation has revitalized the space, transforming it into a vibrant living and learning environment that integrates with the surrounding courtyards and the North Avenue streetscape. 

Central to this transformation is the introduction of a new dining commons, ingeniously fitted into previously underused areas. This 310-seat facility not only accommodates flexible, exhibition-style culinary stations but also revitalizes 13,780 square feet of the ground floor for food service and production. An inviting 50-seat outdoor dining terrace enhances the upper plaza. The project champions sustainability through initiatives like eliminating trays and disposable packaging, composting food waste, and utilizing energy and water-saving fixtures, achieving nearly complete recycling of demolition and construction waste. 

This renovation cleverly merges the complex's main thoroughfare with the dining commons, fostering social interaction among students and enhancing their campus experience. Come evening, the area is illuminated by an ever-changing LED light display, reminiscent of fireflies, capturing the attention of passersby and reinvigorating a once-dormant campus corner into a welcoming and dynamic urban enclave.

Designed in collaboration with Menefee + Winer (now MAKE Architecture)