Reinventing Dining for a Pandemic-Prepared World

al Fresco Dining Pavilion Opens to the Sky via Retractable Fabric Roof

How do campuses and companies, both large and small, provide safe gathering for dining in a pandemic and prepare for the next one? In a conceptual design study for a major northeastern college, Simmons STUDIO proposed creating an adaptable al fresco dining pavilion. It is adaptable to be open to the sky, or on rainy or hot days, the translucent fabric roof can close to create a shady and weathertight area. Steam-heated bench seats, and radiant panels allow for sustainable comfort all year round, with fresh air in abundance.

Two covered open-air cooking venues will serve the area to provide food with an extremely low carbon footprint. The design eliminates the extremely wasteful exhaust hood ventilation that is required indoors, which involves heating outside air, and then immediately expelling it through an expensive exhaust system, which produces massive GHG emissions. Learn more...

Dining Pavilion Can Also Double as an Outdoor Sheltered Event Venue

Mughelli Foundation Promotes Sustainability in POC Communities

Ovie Mughelli

Climate change affects people of color and low-income communities in a massively disproportionate way. Think about Katrina, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and inner city populations affected by drinking water and air pollution and asthma issues.

SimmonsSTUDIO chatted with keynote speaker and 2X All-Pro NFL fullback Ovie Mughelli at the Living Futures Product Expo on his foundation’s mission to engage and empower the next generation of sustainability leaders.

Ovie’s Mughelli Foundation has created innovative programs to engage youth in the sustainability conversation. From creating the Gridiron Green graphic novel series distributed to elementary schools, where a black superhero stars in green missions to protect the environment, to partnering with collegiate athletic departments for green tailgating events, Ovie is empowering the future.

SimmonsSTUDIO calls you to inclusive ACTION on climate diversity by having your higher education institution or athletic department partner with his organization. Learn more at: https://www.omfgreen.org/

#GridironGreen #mughellifoundation #OvieMughelli #greendiversity