University of Cincinnati MarketPointe Dining

Driven by trends in student enrollment and the desire to advance the university’s master plan for food service, this project renovated the main level and portions of the basement of the 37,000 gross square foot MarketPointe dining facility.  HEAPY provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, technology, and fire protection design for the project. Scope included interior renovation, increased seating capacity, elevator upgrade, refreshed dining equipment and furnishings, new audio/visual equipment, restroom renovations, exterior envelope modifications, and mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life-safety upgrades. To reduce costs, the project leveraged a 2011 renovation concept as the starting point for the design.

Designed with students in mind, the space offers room for group gatherings, as well as plenty of options for individual dining. The reimagined space creates an immersive environment with upgraded sound system, LCD screens, and digital menu boards. The north dining room is capable of adaptive use as a meeting room or collaboration space during off hours. Utilities were also designed to ensure future flexibility and adaptation as the needs of the space change.

The project was coordinated with other ongoing adjacent projects on campus, including the Calhoun and Siddall residence hall renovations. This required careful coordination to ensure seamless and holistic integration of upgraded building systems relative to adjacent buildings and the campus as a whole.