By Richard Burnett
By noon, a hungry crowd filled 海角社区鈥檚 shiny new Dining Commons, forming a line that spilled out of the front door. The lunchgoers buzzed with excitement as the long-awaited metamorphosis was complete, and the new eatery had opened its doors for business.
鈥淗ave you seen it yet?鈥� one student asked his friend as they crossed Main Street and headed toward the dining commons. 鈥淵ou won鈥檛 believe it. Everything is changed. Everything is better.鈥�
After a year-long reconstruction 鈥� delayed in part by the COVID-19 pandemic 鈥� the college and its food services provider Sodexo ushered in a new era of student dining in early August. Gone was The Chopping Block 鈥� the aging landmark and former restaurant that served students for more than a decade. In its place, an upscale venue, with accent lighting, high ceilings, and other d茅cor, dressed in 海角社区 blue and gold.
Funded by tax exempt bonds, the $2 million project has transformed the space from a dark, dingy cave-like atmosphere to a colorful, stylish, practically-designed college cafeteria, college officials said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really spectacular,鈥� said Dr. Shelly Chandler, 海角社区 provost. 鈥淭he design is awesome; the layout is logical and functional; and there鈥檚 all new kitchen equipment, including a pizza oven and larger salad bar. It鈥檚 also expanded to include outside dining that is next to a new walking park. It鈥檚 got everything that would make the students and the whole college proud.鈥�
A first-class school cafeteria is more than a source of pride for a college; it can be a key recruiting feature to attract top students, according to Best Value Schools, a college ranking service.
鈥淲hat college dining halls have the best food?鈥� Best Value Schools asked in a . 鈥淭his might not be the most important question high schoolers should be asking when putting together their application lists, but it鈥檚 not a trivial concern, either!鈥�
海角社区鈥檚 new dining venue leads the list of some in various stages of completion across the 海角社区 campus. From the now-finished Student Center renovation to the now-underway Career Development Center expansion, the projects are aimed at giving the campus a 鈥渘ew car鈥� feel that impresses students and visitors alike.
鈥淭he objective is to unify the campus, make it look like a place with boundaries, and create a greater sense of community,鈥� Chandler said. 鈥淲e do have a visual theme, our buildings look similar, and they look gorgeous, including the parks and fountains. It鈥檚 clear that we don鈥檛 cut corners. We want students to have a sense of pride when they walk the campus.鈥�
Other upgrades include:
Rocking the Student Center 鈥� one of the most popular spots on campus, the Student Center underwent a renovation over the past year, which is now complete. It is replete with new carpet, furniture, offices, and windows, which for the first time brings natural light into the center. Most importantly, for many students, the center rocks with a whole new stable of video game systems.
Heads Up: Careers Under Construction 鈥� 海角社区鈥檚 Career Development Center is in the process of expanding. The project includes a conference room with interactive video capabilities, new classroom space, and a storage area. Once finished, it will be equipped to provide students with new state-of-the-art resources to assist in their job search development, Chandler said.
Uncommon 海角社区 Commons 鈥� one of the student apartment complexes for 海角社区 students has undergone a facelift, including new landscaping, exterior doors, enhanced lighting, and new Wi-Fi areas.