Napa, CA – The Culinary Institute of America
(CIA) has appointed the San Francisco-based Architectural Resource Group
(ARG) to oversee the design and redevelopment of the college’s newest facility,
the former site of Copia in the city of Napa, CA. The
building will reopen this year as The Culinary Institute of
America at Copia.
“How pleased we are to continue this long-term collaboration
on an exciting new venue,” says Naomi Miroglio,
principal of ARG. Previously, ARG designed both the Rudd Center for Wine
Studies and the Williams Center for Flavor Discovery at the college’s Greystone campus in St. Helena.
Copia opened in 2001 as a
nonprofit museum and education center dedicated to wine, food, and the arts.
Located on the riverfront in downtown Napa, the building closed to the public
in 2008. The CIA acquired the northern portion of the 12-acre site earlier this
year. “Copia is in fantastic shape, and we have great
plans for bringing the facility back to life,” says CIA President Dr. Tim Ryan. “We want to
ensure that our reinvention of Copia provides an even
greater experience for visitors and the community while also maintaining what
made it such a remarkable space over the course of its history.”
Totaling more than 80,000 square feet, Copia contains a 280-seat theater, a 100-seat demonstration kitchen, a library,
retail space, classrooms, exhibition spaces, and an array of outdoor gardens.
An outdoor amphitheater seats more than 700. ARG will work with the CIA to best
determine how the physical space can be reallocated to bring the CIA’s
offerings to a larger audience while complementing the Greystone campus, which
remains home to the college’s degree programs.
The work will include constructing
teaching kitchens similar to those at Greystone, adding a wine-tasting
venue
and a new restaurant, developing a museum, and designing other spaces
for
consumer engagement. By providing educational and culinary programs to
the
public, the revitalized facility will fulfill Copia’s original vision
as a gathering place celebrating Napa’s prominence as a center
for wine and culinary arts.
ARG will also assist the college in cultivating supporters
for the new facility. As a not-for-profit college, the CIA relies on
underwriters to fund many of its programs, and there will be several naming
opportunities available at the CIA at Copia.
To track the progress of the facility, visit CIAatCopia.com and register
for e-mail updates or follow on social media. The first phase of the CIA at Copia is scheduled to open in spring 2016.
Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image:
Copia in Napa, CA in 2005. The Culinary Institute of America
acquired Copia in 2015 and has appointed San
Francisco-based Architectural Resource Group to oversee the redevelopment of
the property. Upon its reopening later this year, The Culinary Institute of
America at Copia will once again become an innovative
wine country destination for food and wine experiences. (Photo credit: ARTonFILE.com)
View hi-res image >
Media Contact:
Stephan Hengst
Director—Communications
845-905-4288
s_hengst@culinary.edu
About The Culinary Institute of America
Founded in 1946, The Culinary
Institute of America is the world’s premier culinary college. Dedicated to
driving leadership development for the foodservice and hospitality industry,
the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers associate degrees in culinary arts
and baking and pastry arts; bachelor’s degree majors in management, culinary
science, and applied food studies; and executive education through its Food
Business School. Its conferences and consulting services have made the CIA the
think tank of the food industry in the areas of health & wellness,
sustainability, world cuisines & cultures, and professional excellence
& innovation. The college also offers certificate programs and courses for
professionals and enthusiasts. Its worldwide network of 48,000 alumni includes
leaders in every area of foodservice and hospitality. The CIA has campuses in
New York, California, Texas, and Singapore.
About Architectural Resources Group
With offices in San Francisco,
Pasadena, and Portland, Oregon, Architectural Resources Group’s
practice helps
people realize opportunities in the historic built environment to
create great
places, enhance investment, and enliven community. The firm’s services
include
new design in historic settings, adaptive reuse, rehabilitation,
seismic
strengthening, sustainable design, restoration, programming and
facility master
planning, feasibility studies, and interior design. The firm’s work
can be seen
throughout the Napa Valley at sites such as the Napa Valley Opera
House, Beringer Vineyards, Charles Krug Winery, and Napa Valley
Vintners offices in St. Helena. Recently, the firm completed the new
Steven S. Koblik Education and Visitor Center at the Huntington
Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino,
California.
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