The first bricks of Johnson County Community College’s new Hospitality & Culinary Academy were already in place before the late winter snows blew in.

From the corner of College Boulevard and Quivira Road, passers-by can get a glimpse of the 36,000-square-foot, one-story building going up just south of the Regnier Center parking garage.

The $13 million academy will house five culinary labs, a glass-walled innovation kitchen where the award-winning culinary team will practice for competitions (currently they practice in kitchens tucked away from public view) and a 75-seat demonstration kitchen in a culinary theater.

Designed by the DLR Group in Overland Park, the academy is scheduled to open in August. In addition to serving the 700-plus students currently enrolled in JCCC’s popular hospitality management program, the added capacity will allow the college to offer more continuing education classes to home cooks.