The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) has tasked San Franciscobased Architectural Resource Group (ARG) to reimagine Napa, California’s former Copia building as a new educational facility.
Located downtown along the river, Copia debuted in 2001 as a nonprofit museum and education center dedicated to wine, food, and the arts. Though it closed to the public in 2008, the CIA purchased the 12-acre property’s northern portion earlier this year.
“Copia is in fantastic shape, and we have great plans for bringing the facility back to life,” says CIA president Tim Ryan. “We want to ensure that our reinvention of Copia provides an even greater experience for visitors and the community while also maintaining what made it such a remarkable space over the course of its history.”
At more than 80,000 square feet, the building is home to a 280-seat theater, a 100-seat demonstration kitchen, a library, retail space, classrooms, and exhibition spaces. The site also encompasses a 700-seat amphitheater and several gardens.
The CIA will collaborate with ARG to determine the best reallocation of physical space to expand its offerings, while also complementing the CIA campus at Greystone, located in St. Helena. Home to the college’s degree programs, Greystone is the inspiration for Copia—which is slated to include similar teaching kitchens, a museum, and a new winetasting venue and restaurant. Several spaces will also encourage consumer engagement.
The Culinary Institute of America at Copia will open in spring 2016 with educational and culinary programs available to the public.
