With several athletics teams returning to campus this weekend, and first-year students moving in next week, the Augsburg Dining Commons is getting ready to re-open.
The furniture in the Dining Commons is a mix of existing tables and chairs along with new soft-seating banquettes (pictured below) and three new counter-height tables.
Furniture in the Dining Commons is a mix of existing and new furniture, including this banquette seating.Counter-height stools for the common table will be delivered in late August. Temporary stools will be installed in the interim.
The Dining Commons features floor-to-ceiling windows. New black-out shades have been installed throughout the Dining Commons and East Commons to allow diners to control for direct sunlight, when needed.
New blackout shades have been installed throughout the Dining Commons and East Commons.
Finishing touches are also being completed on food-service spaces, including the expanded salad bar and beverage counter.
The salad bar set up is nearing completion.The expanded beverage counter is set up and ready to go.
As the Dining Commons remodel moves into its final weeks, a number of new fixtures are taking shape.
In addition to the pendant globe lights shown in the July 17 update, two strands of smaller globe lights have been installed over a custom-built common table that can seat a large group of people.
A large, custom-built common table will provide counter-height seating for up to 26 people.
With all the new lighting, the view of the Dining Commons from the quad shows a much more brightly lit space.
A more brightly lit Dining Commons is viewable from the quad.
The renovation project also includes an expanded beverage counter. With more room to place beverage dispensers on a single, larger counter, the new design separates the area for self-service beverages from the dish return and waste receptacles, creating better traffic flow in the area.
The extended beverage counter separates beverage service from the dish return and waste receptacles, which are on the other side of the wall pictured here.
The Dining Commons renovation includes updates to the food-service area, the servery, including moving the salad bar out into the commons area to provide more room inside the servery to get to the various food stations.
The updated servery will have a separate space where pork will be served and more space in the interior because the salad bar is moved outside of the servery. Not pictured: the ice cream machine, which will be along the wall with the silverware, etc.The new salad bar — for soups, salads, and desserts — is relocated outside the servery to provide more space for diners to access food-service stations.
Inside the servery, new cabinetry and soffits have been installed. On the left-hand side, as you enter, is a designated station for dishes containing pork, keeping them separated from the rest of the food items served.
The updated servery includes new cabinetry and soffits.The left side of the servery (as you enter) has a section for pork items, separated by a wall from other food stations.
The Dining Commons is currently wrapped in plastic to contain dust and “dry fall” as crews sand and paint surfaces. (Dry fall is a specialty type of paint or coating used for spray application. It is designed to dry quickly so that overspray from, for example, painting a ceiling, falls to the floor dry instead of wet.)
Walls (except where tile will be installed), soffits, and the waffle ceiling of the Dining Commons will all get a fresh coat of paint in this process.
A plastic enclosure contains dust and spray during sanding and painting in the Dining Commons, including a fresh coat on the waffle ceiling.The walls and soffits of the servery are prepped for painting.
Once the ceiling was fully painted, crews began installing new pendant lights throughout the Dining Commons area.
Pendant globe lighting will be installed throughout the Dining Commons.
Two new wall structures are being constructed in the Dining Commons as part of this summer’s remodeling project.
At the top of the central staircase, a “welcome wall” is being installed to create an arrival space for the Dining Commons. The wall will channel traffic to the new check-in kiosk during meal service and provides a space for registration check-in during special events.
A new welcome wall will create an arrival space at the top of the central staircase entrance to the Dining Commons.
In the servery, crews are building a vertical wall on one side of the service area to create a designated serving location for food with non-halal protein (e.g., bacon, pepperoni or sausage pizza, other pork dishes or non-halal meats, etc.). The intent is to separate non-halal food and serving utensils from the rest of the food served in the Dining Commons, including dishes prepared with halal proteins.
A new separation wall in the servery creates a designated station for non-halal proteins, keeping them separate from other food served in the Dining Commons.
A concrete coating levels the existing floor and provides a foundation for installation of new flooring.
Renovation continues this week in the Dining Commons, with preparation of the floor and framing new partial walls in the space.
The floor is being covered and leveled with a thin coat of concrete. New flooring will then be installed on top of the old floor.
A half-wall will be built between the area for the new salad bar and a row of banquette seating.
The frame for a half-wall is also in progress in the dining area. The wall will separate the salad bar, which will move out of the servery to improve access to food service, and new banquette seating similar to the seating against the walls in the Oren Gateway Center lobby. (See rendering below.)
Banquette seating along the new half wall will be similar to the seating in Oren Gateway Center lobby.
With renovation underway this summer in the Dining Commons, camps, conferences, and SOAR participants will use the main level of Christensen Center for food service and dining.
Dining tables are set up throughout the main level of Christensen Center.
Dining tables are set up in the lobby, Einstein’s, the student art gallery and “fishbowl” area, along the edges of hallways, in the student lounge and the Marshall Room. Outdoor seating on the quad will also be available, as weather permits.
A reminder that regular dining service is not available for faculty and staff during the renovation.
The Augsburg Room, the University Events office, and the Dining Services kitchen remain open on the upper level of Christensen Center. Please use the south staircase or elevator to access the upper level of the building. The main Christensen Center staircase is closed for the renovation project.
Included in Augsburg’s 2023 dining services contract is a commitment of $1.4 million from Aladdin, our dining services partner, to remodel the Dining Commons and servery of the campus dining space on the upper level of Christensen Center. That construction is taking place this summer, and the Commons will be closed until mid-August for the project.
Dining Commons demolition underway.
During the summer, camps and conferences will use the main level of Christensen Center for food service and dining. Outdoor seating will also be available, as weather permits.
Areas of 2nd floor Christensen that will remain open during construction include the Augsburg Room, the University Events office space, and the Dining Services kitchen. The main Christensen Center staircase is closed for the renovation. Please use the south staircase or elevator to access the 2nd level of the building. The restrooms on the 2nd level also will remain open this summer except for a short period during which the doorways will be under construction to bring them into alignment with ADA requirements.
Renovation of the Dining Commons includes:
Remodeling the servery, including moving the salad bar into the dining area to create more space for food service.
Construction of a designated station where pork is served, in order to keep the serving dishes and utensils used for pork separate from the rest of the food serve area.
A mix of new furniture, including some soft-seating similar to the Oren Gateway Center lobby.
An expanded beverage counter and separation between the beverage service and the dish return area.
New flooring, ceiling, and window shades.
Additional details and updates will be posted on the Facilities web site as the renovation project progresses over the summer.
