Sandella's Cafe at North Hall

Framingham State University

Framingham, MA

PRA, as Executive Architect, oversaw the design and construction of North Hall, a new $40 million, 410-bed residence hall at Framingham State University between selection in 2008 through project completion in 2011.  To help offset the anticipated increased demand on the University’s existing dining services, operated by Sodexo at the McCarthy Campus Center, this grab-and-go cafe and small convenience store was incorporated into the planning of North Hall.

Sandella’s offers seating to approximately 60 customers at a time.  The facility includes a small prep kitchen, dry and cold storage, warming of prepared sandwiches and pizzas, and drinks of all kinds.  Sandella’s operates later than the rest of the University’s Dining Services, providing students an off-hours dining option.  North Hall was the first MSCBA residence hall to achieve LEED Gold.  Among the sustainable design components incorporated into the project was a horizontal ground source heat pump system, which heats and cools a portion of the building, including Sandella’s Cafe.