RIT Dining Team Wins Bronze Award for Beanz Renovation Project

The RIT Dining team is thrilled to announce that our Beanz renovation project has been awarded a Renovation of the Year award in the prestigious Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards, organized by the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS). This recognition underscores the exceptional efforts and dedication of our team to transform Beanz into a modern, inclusive, and functional space for the RIT community.

The Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards celebrate exemplary collegiate dining programs that excel in menu design, presentation, nutrition, and overall dining experience. Named in honor of a NACUFS founder, these awards are a testament to the highest standards of dining excellence in higher education.

A Project Born from Growth 

The inspiration behind the Beanz renovation was driven by the growing demand we have had. James Yarrington, who was instrumental in the project’s design, explained, “The cafe was doing 400% of the volume of business that was foreseen when we did the original Beanz project just under 20 years ago. So rather than just aesthetics, we needed to completely rethink how the café worked and provide enough space to support that.”

The renovation aimed not only to update the space aesthetically but also to address the growing needs of the RIT community. "We wanted to enhance the lobby like we renovated Gracie’s,” added Brett Kremer, manager of Beanz and a key member of the project team. "The seating area was outdated, and there was limited wayfinding and traffic flow. We needed to make it more accessible, especially with the increase in pre-orders and pick-ups."

Overcoming Challenges with Collaboration

The renovation had its challenges. "The first and greatest challenge with a busy and popular establishment is relocation," noted Yarrington. RIT Dining managed this by providing temporary accommodations in Sol’s Underground. Additionally, the team had to navigate complex architectural challenges, such as integrating 18 different portals, doors, and other points of passage into the new design.

Dustin Peterson, director of operations for RIT Dining, who was deeply involved in the project from day one, shared, "I felt a responsibility to the RIT community. We had to ensure the design was ADA compliant and maximized the space for a seamless guest experience." Kremer echoed this sentiment, adding, "There were a lot of small adjustments needed, especially working within the timeline. The biggest challenge was getting the espresso machines in time before school started."

Shauna Cross, assistant director of creative, and Amber Stokes, multimedia graphic designer for the Finance & Administration marketing and communication team, played a vital role in preparing the award submission. Stokes reflected on the process: "Initially, the process felt overwhelming since this was my first submission of this kind. Fortunately, Shauna helped me stay organized, and together, we successfully submitted the video." The submission included a detailed video about the progression of the Beanz renovation project from start to finish.

Meeting the Needs of the RIT Community

Ensuring that the renovation met the needs and preferences of students and employees was a top priority. "We had good input on what students thought and needed," Yarrington said. "Given what I’ve observed about typical occupancy, we fulfilled the needs fairly well."

The team’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by the RIT community. "From an observation standpoint and talking with the supervisors at Beanz, I’ve worked at a lot of coffee shops, and I had a huge sense of relief not seeing long lines," said Peterson. "The attention that the entire Beanz team did back of the house, from ensuring the right equipment was ordered to setting everything up, was a huge asset."

Kremer highlighted the improvements in the food and beverage program, noting, "We added several menu additions last fall, including milkshakes and frozen lemonades, which we wouldn’t have been able to do in the old Beanz space."

Recognition and Pride

Winning the award is a point of pride for the entire team. "It’s a testament to what active collaboration and planning does for our program," said Peterson. "It validated the extra time and care we took in the decision-making process."

Kremer expressed his pride, stating, "We knew we wanted to submit for this award, and it helped guide us in including our knowledge and student feedback into the project."

Looking Ahead

This award is not just a recognition of past efforts but also a motivator for the future. "This shows that I’ve made good decisions in my career in coming to RIT and that there is passion and drive at the university for progress and innovation,” said Peterson.
"We got our foot in the door—what else can we submit for and accomplish?"

Kremer shared that "winning this award is a huge point of pride for me and motivates the team to submit for more awards in the future. We know we have an incredible food program at RIT, and it’s time to share our success with others.” 

As the RIT Dining team continues to innovate and grow, this recognition will undoubtedly influence the dining experience on campus moving forward. 

For more details about the Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards and to see other winners, please visit the NACUFS website.