Auburn University Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center

Auburn, AL

The Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, a new 115,000-square-foot center located on the edge of Auburn University's campus, will serve as an academic resource for students interested in food and beverage or hospitality-focused careers, providing access to real-world learning experience. The center will support the nascent culinary science and hospitality program to connect good food and hospitality to personal well-being and development. This project is a perfect integration of expertise from Cooper Carry's Higher Education Studio, Hospitality Studio, Science + Technology Studio, and The Johnson Studio.

The Rane Center is a complex compilation of multiple building types that include The Laurel Hotel and Spa, a teaching restaurant, bakery, incubator center, culinary classrooms, instructional laboratories, functioning rooftop garden, food hall, café, courtyard as well as collaborative spaces. The center provides promising culinary graduates the opportunity to create a startup for their restaurant concept. Auburn will sponsor these students in the two incubator stalls. If their concepts become successful, they can graduate into a larger stall, an on-campus location, or an off-campus restaurant.

Given the site's proximity to downtown Auburn, we carefully considered urban planning impact and the connection between academics and commerce. The site’s open design invites members of the community to explore these new on-campus options.

What Others Are Saying

• The South’s Best New Luxury Hotel Also Trains The Next Generation In Hospitality
• The Best Places to Stay in the South's College Towns
• The Story Behind Auburn's New World Class Rane Culinary Science Center
• Food Hall A Highlight of New Auburn Culinary Science Center
• Rooftop Garden Education
• One-of-a-kind Culinary Science Center Rising on Auburn Campus
• Auburn Unveils Cutting-Edge Culinary Hub