The system could anticipate busy times and respond accordingly, Condenzio says.

But more than just that, the two Houses had different conceptions of what the renovations would look like and how they would fit into the Houses.

Eliot, for example, wanted a room that would complement the look of the existing dining hall with its mahogany walls and impressive artwork. Kirkland, on the other hand, was looking for more light and a more spacious kitchen.

McNitt says being able to take these concerns and work from the perspective of the customer allowed HUDS to create a better design.

"We want to wed ourselves in with what House life is all about," Condenzio says. "You need to feel like you're walking into the butler's pantry of a big home," Condenzio says.

Order Up

But the changes HUDS had in mind meant beefing up the central kitchen serving the River Houses, located on the floors below Eliot and Kirkland and connected to the other Houses by tunnels.

The result was an underground complex of computerized machinery more worthy of NASA than Bell Ringing Beef.