Staff Report / August 11, 2026
CANANDAIGUA – Local leaders and project partners gathered along Lakeshore Drive today as Ontario County officially broke ground on a state-of-the-art, $24 million culinary arts facility in Canandaigua. Designed to foster regional workforce development, agritourism, and community enrichment, the world-class center will serve as the shared home for Finger Lakes Community College’s (FLCC) culinary degree and certificate programs, New York Kitchen, and an auxiliary office for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County. Construction on the 19,287-square-foot facility is expected to wrap up by the end of 2027.
Situated on 2.5 acres donated by the Canandaigua Area Development Corporation (CADC) directly across from Kershaw Park, the one-story facility features two hands-on teaching kitchens, a prep kitchen, a demonstration kitchen, and a public retail tasting room showcasing New York State products. The $24 million project is financed through $11.1 million from the State University of New York (SUNY), up to $9.38 million from the Sands Family Foundation, approximately $1.76 million in land value from CADC, and up to $1.76 million from Ontario County. Adjacent to the center, local stakeholders plan to develop a new public park and expand conservation efforts at neighboring Lagoon Park.
Key highlights and partner objectives for the project include:
- FLCC Expansion: The facility will allow FLCC to expand its curriculum with specialized courses and commercial-grade equipment, attracting a broader pipeline of culinary students from across the region.
- Community & Agritourism Focus: New York Kitchen will host public cooking classes and events, while Cornell Cooperative Extension plans to utilize the collaborative space to strengthen local nutrition education, address food insecurity, and support local farmers.
- Development Team: Project leadership includes DJC Architecture, PLLC for architecture and interior design, Passero Associates for civil and landscape engineering, DJCA Cornerstone for pre-construction, and LeChase Construction managing construction.
