was recently named the Tech Accelerator of the Year by the editors of 听for its outstanding use of technology innovation in the food service industry.
Among other innovative tech elements, the Village Center Dining and Community Commons features windows of听electrochromic glass that听automatically tint in proportion to the intensity of the sun and a bicycle that allows diners to burn calories while blending their own smoothies.
The Village Center Dining and Community Commons, which opened in Williams Village in January 2017, took top honors in the nontraditional category. The building, which was a collaborative effort between Campus Dining Services and Housing Facilities Services, was intentionally designed with features that incorporated sustainability, functionality and technology.
The electrochromic glass in the west and southern-facing windows are just one of the several innovative tech elements that helped the Village Center stand out. These walls of glass automatically tint in proportion to the intensity of the sun鈥攁llowing for year-round, world-class views of the Flatiron mountains while reducing the need for indoor lighting and window coverings.
The other significant innovative building feature is the biodigester. This technology breaks down dining food waste into 鈥済ray water鈥� that can be safely re-added to the waste-water supply.听This helps reclaim the water inherent to food waste (approximately 70 percent听of food waste is water) and reduces the need to sort and transport food waste for composting.
鈥淲e were surprised and honored to win innovator of the year,鈥� said Paul Houle, director of Campus Dining Services.
鈥淭his award was a true collaboration between our dining and housing facilities staffs, and it鈥檚 just amazing to be selected among other dining organizations, restaurants and food industry businesses across the United States. It was satisfying and humbling to be recognized as the best.鈥澨�
continues to work toward听bringing innovation and technology into its facilities by working collaboratively and embracing new and exciting ideas.
