The College is considering major changes to the three main student buildings on campus -- Thayer Dining Hall, Robinson Hall and the Collis Student Center -- and hopes to have ideas for improvement by next fall.
Director of Facilities Planning Gordon DeWitt told The Dartmouth yesterday his office has launched a full-scale study of the three buildings including their operation, structure and use, and has asked that every possibility for improvement be considered.
DeWitt said investigations by the outside group will include everything from relocating facilities and operations amongst the three buildings to adding on to the physical plants and even connecting them.
"Everything is on the table," DeWitt said. "The study is not being limited at this phase."
He did however caution that some of the more exotic visions still considered possibilities in the study are probably unrealistic: "Perhaps there is a little bit of dreaming ... maybe nothing could come out of this study, but I guess I'd be surprised if we didn't turn up something."
Using words such as "synergy" and talking about having "one unit" for both dining and student activities, DeWitt said there are activities and functions in all three buildings that could potentially function better in one of the other structures.
"The dining hall has a fair amount of space that might be employed in a different way," DeWitt said. "Changes in the eating habits of students mean ... there might be reasons to think in the long term to use the dining facility in a different way than it's being used at the moment."
He said the study will cost between $100,000 and $150,000 and will also include necessary electrical and mechanical improvements in Thayer.
The group is working with Director of Dining Services Tucker Rossiter and Dean of Student Life Holly Sateia to facilitate student and administration involvement in the process.
While this study directly overlaps one of the guiding principles outlined in the landmark social and residential life initiative calling for increased and improved social space controlled by students as well as a second element of the overall plan calling for decentralized dining, DeWitt said the idea for a study came before the Trustee decision in February.
DeWitt added that he has not spoken with College President James Wright about the study.
