Olathe Innovation Center Culinary Program

Rapids Contract & Design proudly contributed to the development of the culinary spaces at the new Olathe Innovation Center, a facility designed to centralize and expand Olathe Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. This facility features a fully equipped commercial kitchen, a student-run restaurant open to the public, and a separate coffee shop – providing students with hands-on culinary training in a real-world environment.

Our Involvement:

We partnered closely with DLR Group, Olathe Public Schools, and Advanced Foodservice Consulting to design, specify, and deliver kitchen and foodservice equipment tailored for an educational setting. Our team, led by Lucas Wacker and Guy Argent, worked alongside Luke Green from Advanced Foodservice Consulting to ensure all spaces supported both instruction and public service.

Rapids Contract & Design’s scope included:

• Designing a commercial kitchen layout optimized for culinary education and production
• Specifying and managing installation of high-performance cooking, refrigeration, and warewashing equipment
• Developing front-of-house layouts and equipment plans for the student-run restaurant and coffee shop
• Coordinating utilities and ensuring compliance with industry standards and safety regulations

The resulting facility provides students with an immersive culinary experience that simulates professional foodservice operations, preparing them for careers in hospitality and culinary arts.

The culinary program spans approximately 5,754 sq ft across several purpose-built spaces. These include a 375 sq ft coffee shop, a 675 sq ft bakery kitchen, a 1,280 sq ft restaurant kitchen, and a 1,950 sq ft teaching kitchen. Additional support areas include a 504 sq ft warewashing space, a 600 sq ft walk-in cooler and freezer complex, and a 370 sq ft dry storage area—each designed to support both instructional needs and real-world foodservice operations.