CDS prepares for Rollins renovations

Other dining halls will change hours to accommodate the student influx.

By Krystin Arneson

Published Dec. 11, 2009

Renovations to Rollins dining hall, already underway with the construction of an elevator shaft, will move into their main phases during winter break as part of phase three of the five-part Residential Life Master Plan. The dining hall will close for the spring semester and is scheduled to reopen in the summer.

"In order for the building to be closed for renovation, we are in the process of making things happen to be ready," Rollins Dining Hall Manager Nancy Monteer said. "There really is a lot to be accomplished behind the scenes to make sure everything happens as it should before the contractors take over the building."

When Rollins is vacated Jan. 5 and the contractors take over, the major renovations will begin. Besides a new entrance, new lobby and some new windows in the eating area, Campus Dining Services Associate Director Steve Simpson said there would not really be any aesthetic changes to the dining hall. Instead, most of the renovations will be practical: restrooms in the dining hall, new plumbing and some electrical work.

"What students are used to seeing they will continue to see," he said.

Rollins was last renovated in 2005, and Simpson said the upcoming renovations were not part of the original plans. Originally, Residential Life was only going to renovate the first floor of the building as part of the Master Plan — this meant the second-floor dining hall would be sitting empty and idle for a semester.

"It seemed to make good sense to take advantage of this window of opportunity when the facility would have been closed down anyway," Simpson said.

The $2.2 million renovations to the dining hall, funded by a CDS capital pool fund, are aimed at making the dining hall operationally independent from the residence halls. Simpson said separate entrances are key for this because the residence halls close at 11 p.m. Simpson said the independent entrance will allow Rollins to extend hours and offer new late-night options. He also said the Residence Halls Association proposed possibly offering diner food as one of these options.

"We're considering our first late night, all-you-care-to-eat service," Simpson said. "It wouldn't be a full menu, but it would be the grill, probably the salad bar. (The separate entrance) will allow us to stay open until 1 or 2 (a.m.)."

Until then, the closing of the dining hall presents some logistical challenges. Staff members will be relocated to vacant positions at other dining halls around campus, and Simpson said about half of them will go to Eva J's dining hall to staff their expanded hours. CDS Marketing Manager Andrew Lough said staff would be encouraged to take breaks before or after peak hours.

"It's not like we're taking breaks away from people," Lough said. "We're just putting a policy in place that says if you can take your break at noon or at one, one would be a lot better."

Rollins' closure will increase student traffic at other locations, especially during peak dining hours. Lough said sharing tables, part of a new CDS marketing campaign and exploring other dining hall options as ways to get through longer lines.

Simpson also suggested if students find non-typical meal times to eat in, they'll find dining halls "pretty smooth sailing." He said these times are before 11 a.m. or after 1:30 p.m. Simpson said Eva J's tends to be under-utilized and suggested students "give it a try.”

"With things being a little tighter, we're looking at every place we can to free up a couple extra tables," Simpson said.