Culinary Arts Institute Brings OCC to the Heart of Royal Oak
Oakland Community College (OCC) has long been recognized for its award-winning culinary arts program. When the college committed to relocating the program to a more urban setting, the goal was to give students a home that matched the caliber of instruction while elevating the program’s visibility. OCC envisioned a space that would do more than house kitchens. They wanted a building that could announce itself to the community, invite engagement, and immerse students in the vibrant restaurant culture that represents their professional future.
HED partnered with OCC to design the new 78,000-square-foot, three-story Culinary Arts Institute on the Royal Oak campus. The project represents the first phase of a larger campus master plan that strengthens OCC’s connection to the downtown environment. It positions the college as a civic partner while maximizing the value of its urban real estate and creating a learning environment rooted in real-world practice.
The program is carefully layered to simulate professional culinary settings. The upper floors host four technology-rich teaching kitchens, two demonstration kitchens for both curriculum and community education, and specialty labs for pastry and production. On the ground floor, a student-run retail outlet offers baked goods and prepared foods directly to the public, giving learners firsthand experience in service and operations. The third floor is anchored by a soaring double-height dining space that serves as both a teaching restaurant and banquet hall. From here, guests enjoy expansive views of downtown Royal Oak, reinforcing OCC’s mission of engagement and hospitality.
Design strategies reflect OCC’s commitment to visibility, flexibility, and community connection. A transparent east façade along Main Street reveals activity inside, drawing the public into an open lobby, collaborative spaces, and a signature stair that anchors the building. The design concentrates “wow factor” at the street-facing edge, using glass, masonry, and a vertical graphic elevator tower to create presence and capture long views into downtown. Kitchens and learning spaces are placed on display, with circulation routes and glazed walls offering clear views in and out, so that both the public and students remain connected to the energy of the building.
The building also prepares for the future. A south corridor provides “plug and play” capacity for additional phases of the master plan, while flexible banquet and dining areas are designed to expand seating into adjacent spaces rather than oversizing rooms for occasional peak use. Strategic planning of infrastructure, receiving areas, and circulation balances the demands of a high-performance teaching environment with sensitivity to the surrounding urban neighborhood.
With its blend of professional-grade facilities, smart urban design, and highly visible presence on Main Street, OCC’s Culinary Arts Institute sets a new standard for culinary education in metro Detroit. The project bridges classroom and career, connecting students to community while solidifying the college’s position as a destination for culinary innovation.
