New Study Room

The new quite study room will replace the student government room.

This winter, Collins College students will have access to a new quite study room.The student government room in Building 79B-2015 will be renovated to feature 12 study carrels with laptop plugin outlets, a print release station with printer and movable chairs. Renovations will also include fresh paint, new carpet tile flooring, and electrical wiring to power up the study carrels. 

"We looked at various areas within The Collins College building complex that would be ideal to renovate, and the one that was best suited in terms of easy access and prominent to students," said Project Manager Andrew Naranjo. 

 The project is expected to be complete by the end of January.

Design Phase Jumps Into Gear

The expansion project at The Collins College of Hospitality Management is in its Preliminary Design phase, which is commonly known as the design development phase. 

This is a rendering of what the student commons may look like.
To see more images of the expansion, visit our photo gallery.  

A Collins College focus group has been established to provide input on undergraduate lecture rooms, two graduate instructional support classrooms, faculty/staff offices, student commons - featuring a grab n’ go snack shop - and a graduate student commons. The committee had its first interactive workshop on Nov. 7 with HMC Architects and Gilbane, the construction firm.  They discussed design elements including floor layout and proposed furnishings for each of the spaces and gave comments that will be incorporated in shaping the new additions. Committee members include: 

• Dr. Margie Jones
• Dr. Patrick Lee
• Dr. Jim Burke
• Lecturer Jennifer Shepherd
• Student Services Coordinator Summer Pettus
• Undergraduate Students: Mario Jaramillo, Kristin Conant and Melissa Fackler
• Graduate Student Daniel Horowitz

The 50 percent Preliminary Design drawing packet with that resulted from the workshop was presented to facilities management personnel at one of two scheduled Facilities Management workshops on Nov. 14. The Collins College strives for quality, efficiency and sustainability in all of its expansion projects, so this was an opportunity to insure that the buildings can be easily maintained as well as identify issues that may be developing on the design and selection of materials, equipment and furnishings.

The design team is also currently engineering the design of the cooling tower, a prominent feature in the expansion project. Simultaneously, there is a value management assessment team busy at work looking at ways to get the most out of the budget while maintaining the quality The Collins College exudes. LEED points toward GOLD LEED certification are being reviewed to insure that all certification requirements are achieved by the time the project is complete.

The expansion project has started out on the right foot and is well on its way toward a better college for current and future faculty, staff, students and alumni. Keep a look out for more updates regarding expansions and upgrades to come. 

Furniture Renovations at The Collins College

One of the first places people go when they visit The Collins College is the main lobby of Building 79B. As people walk through the giant glass doors, they are welcomed with a front-desk receptionist and a small lounge area. This space is designed for students to utilize as study or meeting space or for visitors to sit and wait in comfort while reading the latest issue of the Collins magazine.

In order to revamp the look of the main lobby and improve functionality, new furniture has been installed. The old fabric chairs were replaced with new, more efficient seating. The new chairs are upholstered with liquid and dirt repelling fabric for easy maintenance and are equipped with tablet arms for users to work on laptops or write on a hard surface. When it comes to productivity, The Collins College did not forget about all the lefties out there; a couple of the tablet arms were put in to accommodate left-handed people. To accent the chairs, the small round tables were refinished for a cleaner look.

The renovations improve with flexibility, durability and are of a more aesthetic quality than the previous furniture. Keep on the lookout for more makeovers like this in the future. 

Restroom Facelift at the Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch

The Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch's restrooms got a much appreciated makeover during the summer to update some of the features that have been there since the building was constructed in 1990. These refurbishments give the restrooms a modern and presentable look while contributing to The Collins College’s sustainability efforts. 

Here are a few before and after views of the
bathroom improvements.

The old sinks have been replaced with more efficient, sensor-operated faucets and hand soap dispensers to conserve water and soap while decreasing the risk of cross-contamination. The paper towel dispensers were taken out and energy-saving Dyson Airblade hand dryers were installed to reduce the cost of paper products and the carbon footprint, as well as prevent cross-contamination with unwanted germs. Black granite counter tops replaced the worn and discolored counters. To top it all off, full length mirrors bordered with colored accent tiles were put in. 

Renovations took roughly a month and three months to plan, but were well worth the efforts. The new restrooms will benefit all of its users and the environment in the long-run.

As a part of The Collins College’s ongoing sustainability efforts and desire to better the on-campus experience for students, staff and visitors, it will be receiving more facelifts like this one in the near future. Coming soon will be new quiet study spaces in the student government room and a refurbished student lounge in Building 79B. The idea for these improvements came about from students’ requests. 

New Expansion Rendering

We have a new rendering of the expansion. More color has been added. What do you think? 

The Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch Restroom Remodel

The restrooms at The Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch will soon be getting a facelift. Both the men’s and women’s restrooms will have the current countertops and sinks replaced with new granite countertops and sinks. In addition, the restrooms will now have a full length vertical mirror with glass accent tiles bordering the mirror.

To maintain The Collins College's commitment to environmental sustainability, the restrooms will feature sensor-operated faucets that are low-lead compliant and save on water dispensation. The restrooms will also feature sensor-operated soap dispensers, and Dyson Airblade hand dryers that are energy efficient (80% less energy than warm air dryers per year), produce less waste, have a lower carbon footprint, and eliminate the dependence of paper towels. The campus has incorporated the Dyson Airblade hand dryers in various buildings including the Bronco Student Center (Bldg. 35), the Campus Marketplace (Bldg. 97), and soon to be built Recreation Center building.

ACE Engineering, the contractor hired for the remodeling of the restrooms, is scheduled to being work on Monday, Aug. 27. The completion date for the remodel is Monday, Sept. 17.

Expansion Plans Gain Support

Plans for The Collins College Expansion received support from a variety of campus stakeholders and planners at the CSU Chancellor’s Office during June and July.

Dean Andy Feinstein, Project Manager Andrew Naranjo, Mooris Taylor the facility design and construction project manager for campus, and members of the HMC Architects team have been busy presenting plans for the expansion to several campus groups including, the Disability Resource Center, Finance, Architectural, Landscape, Parking and Traffic, and the President’s Cabinet. These campus groups have enthusiastically supported the project.

Upon the final campus approval by the President’s Cabinet, the team submitted the project to the CSU Chancellor’s Office for a Schematic Design Review, which resulted in a pre-Board of Trustees presentation to the CSU Chancellor’s Office Capital Planning Design and Construction team members on July 30. The presentation by HMC Architects and their supporting mechanical engineering consultant, Glumac, was well received.

“We deeply appreciate the time the Campus Review Committees and Capital Planning Design and Construction team members took to meet with us, review our plans, and provide us with their approval of The Collins College Expansion project,” Naranjo said.

The expansion plans will be presented to the CSU Board of Trustees at a meeting in September. 

Style and Function

Here's our before-and-after photo. Just a few changes, right?

The Collins College transformed its outdated computer lab into a stylish and functional work space for students. With design by Gettys Group, the new lab invokes the feel of a high-end hotel lobby.

The Collins College computer lab renovation took place during the spring quarter of 2012 and finished in June. The contemporary furniture is modular, fashionable and comfortable. Students have the option of using the lab’s computers or bringing their own. There is wireless and wireless printing and a large white board for students to use.  The Macs are PC compatible.  

Dean Andy Feinstein hosted an unveiling of the lab on June 25.  See more photos. 

Welcome to our blog

Welcome to The Collins College of Hospitality Management's Expansion blog! As we embark on a $10 million expansion we want to keep our campus community and friends informed about our progress. Please check back on a regular basis to stay informed about our progress.

The expansion project is currently going through a schematic design phase by HMC Architects, with construction set to begin in December 2013 and doors opening sometime in the spring of 2015.

The 15,000-square-foot expansion will feature two, two-story buildings and be Gold LEED Certified or higher. One will add five classrooms, six faculty offices, a conference room, a faculty lounge and two executive director offices. The second building will have a student commons that serves as a social and study space for students. This building will also house an area for graduate students to study and work.

The building expansion is funded by generous donations from Carol and Jim Collins, Andrew and Peggy Cherng, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Eugene Park ’07 and Richard N. Frank.