Upper Commons Dining

Bristol, Rhode Island

Firm

BKP Architects

Client

Roger Williams University

Area

10,500 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$1,400,000

Completion Date

08/2025

Jeffrey Totaro

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Roger Williams University’s largest dining hall on its Bristol campus, Upper Commons, had last been updated two decades earlier. Challenges included a dated aesthetic, limited choices, and high traffic. BKP reconfigured a new array of food offerings to avoid congestion and updated the space with a vibrant, fun color palette, new flooring, and all new finishes and fixtures. The renovated venue has a cook-your-own station with eight dedicated burners on which students can prepare omelets, stir-fries, and other customized meals. A new concept for Roger Williams students, the station doubles as a specialty demonstration area to host outside chefs or special dining programs. At the Oasis, a dedicated made-without-allergens option, foods are prepared, cooked, and served from this isolated station without the use of the eight most common allergens. An allergen-conscious pantry is situated alongside the food station, from which students can select gluten-free bread, nut-free butter, and other grab-and-go options for flexible meal prep. The new choices and layout give students the power to create their own meals safely in a bright, modern environment.