Expert K-12 & Campus
Kitchen Design-Build

From architectural consultation and equipment procurement to custom stainless fabrication and turnkey installation, we engineer high-performance dining facilities.

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Comprehensive Institutional Capabilities

Modernizing a school district or university campus requires more than just ordering equipment. It requires precise synchronization between trades, tight summer schedules, and deep foodservice expertise.

At Curtis Restaurant Equipment, we take ownership of the entire kitchen lifecycle. We bridge the gap between architects, general contractors, and nutrition directors to ensure your facility opens on time and on budget.

Design & Specification

Layout optimization, MEP rough-in coordination, and specifying the right equipment for your exact culinary program.

Procurement & Staging

Leveraging immense buying power and secure warehousing to stage your entire project, mitigating supply chain delays.

Custom Fabrication

Build-to-measure stainless steel casework, serving counters, and exhaust hoods crafted to fit your exact footprint.

Turnkey Installation

White-glove delivery, uncrating, setting in place, final connections, and comprehensive staff training.

Architectural Blueprints Background

Why Districts & Universities Choose Curtis

We don’t just sell equipment; we protect your investment long after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Summer Window Specialists

School projects live and die by the summer break. Our project managers specialize in hyper-compressed timelines, coordinating rapid demolition, delivery, and install before the fall semester begins.

In-House Warranty & Service

Unlike traditional dealers who vanish after the sale, we operate our own dedicated service division. If a manufacturer’s warranty falls short, our technicians step in to keep your kitchen running.

Employee-Owned Integrity

Because we are a 100% employee-owned company (ESOP), every team member you interact with has a vested interest in the long-term success of your district’s foodservice program.

Our Campus Design Philosophy

A beautiful cafeteria fails if the equipment doesn’t support the volume. We engineer layouts specifically designed to handle high-throughput rushes and evolving student expectations.

■Ergonomic Throughput

The “Golden Strike Zone”

We design serving lines based on Human Factors Engineering. The difference between a smooth rush and a massive bottleneck often comes down to a few inches of poorly placed casework.

✓
The Visual Plane: Food must be presented at a 15-to-45-degree downward viewing angle. Flat glass disrupts this angle, forcing students to duck and slowing down decisions.
✓
The Server Reach Radius: Optimal reach depth is under 18 inches. Deep counters force hyperextension, increasing staff fatigue and slowing service speed.

<18″ Reach

45° Angle

Ready to engineer your campus throughput?

Connect with our institutional design-build team to discuss blueprints, specifications, and timelines.

Book a Consultation

Proven Institutional Field Reports

How intelligent equipment specification and rapid response solves massive campus challenges.

case study 1

SKSD: Summer’s off? Not for Curtis.

How Curtis Helped a Major School District Modernize 12+ Campuses Under Intense Timelines

The Challenge

A large school district launched a federally funded initiative to modernize nearly 65 school kitchens. Projects had to be completed during summer break, creating immovable deadlines and intense coordination pressure.

how it started

In earlier phases, the district managed equipment purchasing internally, resulting in specification errors. Curtis partnered closely to resolve these issues on the spot. The procurement model evolved to include equipment within our awarded bid packages — enhancing accuracy and reducing total costs.

The Curtis Approach

Working under build‑to‑measure agreements across 13 schools, Curtis adapted in real time as field conditions evolved.

The Results

✓ On‑time summer completion

✓ Corrected procurement errors

✓ Custom facility solutions

✓ Streamlined installs

case study 2

BENSON MPG: Modernization to Confidence

How Curtis Supported a Bond-Funded Kitchen & Culinary Lab Transformation on a Modern Campus

The challenge

Facilities Leadership: Tasked with modernizing learning environments, including a high-performance kitchen and culinary training lab supporting daily meal service and hands-on education.

how it started

Post-install warranty complications introduced operational strain. Two lab units remained non-operational due to outside vendor delays and missing custom range frames.

The curtis approach

Custom Fabrication SolutionsFabricated remaining range frames in-house to complete the install rapidly
Service Program DeploymentActivated in-house service program to correctly diagnose equipment, preventing unnecessary replacement.