College of Charleston, City Bistro

McMillan Pazdan Smith was awarded a feasibility study and field investigation of the current building envelope, systems, and food service for the existing retail dining facility on College of Charleston’s campus.

City Bistro is a unique, buffet-style student restaurant located in the Berry Residence Hall. Described by the College as an “impressive design with simplistic décor that triggers an instant inviting atmosphere,” our team’s renovation created a new dining experience for students, faculty, and visitors, that utilized warm, sustainable materials, took advantage of views to the exterior, and provided popular outdoor patio and dining opportunities.

Converting an adjacent office space into a new street-front deli and adding an outdoor seating area, reorienting access, providing new finishes, enclosing and changing seating options, and improving the distribution and availability of food choices created a dining experience similar to the Fresh Food Dining model already used by the College.

The interior accommodates four stations offering an upscale rotating menu, brick-oven pizzas, a Mongolian Grill, a fresh salad bar, a made-to-order deli station, and a gourmet dessert station and smoothie bar.