Housed in the Columbia medical school's 1929 student residence, designed in an art deco Gothic style by renowned American architect James Gamble Rogers, this 5,200 sf project involved the total renovation of the dormitory's monumental dining hall.

Seeking to renew the space’s grandeur while providing a modern environment, the firm restored the room’s decorative plasterwork, which had been concealed for decades above a suspended ceiling. Echoing the rich material heritage of significant institutional buildings of the day, BFA designed custom-built solid cherry wood and leather tables, chairs, and servery furniture for the space. Additional work included new flooring and wainscot of traditional linoleum, and clean-lined custom lighting. Working with Columbia University Art Properties, BFA selected a suite of modern food-themed prints by Robert Rauschenberg to enliven the dining environment.