The project
FDP designed the food service for Thornton Elementary in Arlington ISD, pairing a cheerful, student-friendly servery with a full scratch-cooking production kitchen behind it.
Out front, curved serving counters finished in bright watercolor-dot graphics run beneath a sculpted green-and-gold soffit, with hot wells, cold pans, and overhead sneeze guards sized for young students. Behind the serving line, FDP specified a complete back-of-house kitchen built for cooking from scratch at volume — stacked convection and combi ovens, a tilting braising pan, walk-in cooler and freezer, a dedicated warewashing room, and ample dry storage — so the campus can prepare fresh meals on site every day.
The result is a cafeteria that looks inviting to kids while giving the nutrition staff a well-organized, high-capacity kitchen to work in.
