O-A-K partnered with Van Buren ISD to fully renovate the instructional kitchen for the Culinary Arts & Catering Management program at Van Buren Tech, the district’s career and technical education center in Lawrence.

The program prepares high school students from across Van Buren County for careers in the food service industry, and its teams compete each year in the Michigan ProStart Competition.

Construction took place while the building stayed occupied. Students adapted their training space during the renovation and kept preparing for competition.

On February 27, 2026, students set up in their new kitchen for the first time, just days before heading to the state ProStart competition.

Project Scope:

• Complete renovation of the culinary arts instructional kitchen
• Commercial kitchen equipment, e.g., ranges, ovens, hoods, walk-in cooler
• Kitchen exhaust and fire suppression
• Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades
• Finishes: flooring, walls, ceilings, lighting
• Demonstration or instructional stations