Architecture Workshop (AW) were appointed in 2007 by the internationally renowned French cuisine school, Le Cordon Bleu (LCB) in partnership with the Palmerston North based Universal College of Learning (UCOL).

UCOL/LCB entered into a joint venture with WelTec to refurbish the old Regent Cinema on Wellington’s Cuba Street to create a cuisine school. Key design initiatives included the introduction of new light atriums to relieve the deep plan of the old theatre, testing various configurations of food preparation, learning kitchens and theory spaces over the five-storey building. The design team in consultation with the services engineers at eCubed Building Workshop established clear principles for the Level 2 LCB fitout. Ceiling heights were maximised and social spaces were positioned on the double street frontage to orientate circulation areas to daylight and for increased visual exchange with the street.

AW worked closely with UCOL project leader Christine Beech to manage the extensive design workshops with LCB towards the detailed signoff of the two 20-persons teaching kitchens (LCB normally work in 16 student modules). AW proposed a series of simple wall and ceiling construction principals to optimise cost during intensive value management cycles with project manager TBIG and cost consultants Rawlinsons. During the site works, there was further negotiation through shop drawings and mock up reviews with contractor Naylor Love to reduce cost to economically achieve the high level of fit out required for Cordon Bleu brand. Naylor Love was the contractor for both base build & fit out and achieved the intensive programme to hand the school over in time for the second semester culinary programme of 2012. The school was officially opened by Prime Minster John Key on October 8, 2012.

We were impressed how you (Architecture Workshop) under promised and were under budget. We are delighted with the over-delivery.

Andre Cointreau, Le Cordon Bleu Owner & President