What the heck is happening to Thayer Dining?
So you read those little green posters titled "10 Things You Need to Know: The Class of 1953 Commons Construction Project Update." Still have questions? Me too.
I spoke with Dave Newlove, Director of DDS, to talk about the renovation, which is being paid for in part by a generous gift of $12 million from the Class of 1953. Later, he took me on a tour to show off the construction, which is still on track to be completed by Fall 2011. We will have to do some adjusting between now and then, though. Some highlights: FoCo's seating area will be closed for the Winter, but it will still be cooking. We will eat in the awesome new seating upstairs more on that later. Also, Homeplate will be down for the Spring, but FoCo will be back by then. Here is a look into the future Dartmouth that is being built.
The basement of the Commons will house Topside, the Card Office and DDS headquarters. That's nice, but here's what is in it for us: there is also a huge empty room dedicated to student social space. We can paint the walls, we can put on a show, we can square dance or build huge card towers or knit. The cool part is that it's up to us. There is an entrance out in front of the Commons, so it's not like we have to walk through a crowded part of the dining hall or something; we can just go there to hang out. Unfortunately, according to Newlove, it is still in need of funding, so until we do something about that, it might as well be storage.
On the first floor there will be some major changes. In terms of decor, Newlove says FoCo will feature a classy wood theme, and Homeplate is going to have "a lot of exciting colors." Both of the rooms will be for seating, but they can also be turned into open space for dances, etc. Again, a big space for Dartmouth kids to use for whatever they want. Pretty cool.
The piece de resistance is, of course, the food. The basic idea is to have all of the food preparation centralized and open, so we can see everything being cooked and get our food in one area before heading back to the North Dining Room (FoCo), the South Dining Room (Homeplate), or the second floor to sit and eat. Here is what Newlove says we can look forward to in that central food area:
Kosher dining where the T.V. room used to be.
Next to it, traditional dining comfort food baby. Imagine "the best of Food Court and Homeplate."
At the other side of the far end will be vegetarian/vegan food, "with a middle eastern flair."
Close to the middle will be the grill, again a combination of FoCo and Homeplate.
A hearth bake oven will support pizza, steak and other fun things. Newlove suggests a build-your-own-casserole option.
Of course, there will be a deli with Panini capabilities and an "upscale" salad bar, complete with cooking right next to it in case you want hot chicken (or anything really) in your salad.
There will also be a full bakery viewable from the seating in the Home Plate area. Why? Because we can.
The crown jewel will be a so-called "action station," according to Newlove. "Imagine Collis on steroids," he said. There will be a large area where they make your food right in front of you, and this part is College President Jim Yong Kim's idea guest chefs. Maybe one comes for a week to make Thai; the next week, traditional Mexican (please); the next week, French.
Besides the food preparation area on the first floor, the second floor is going to be completely remodeled as well. There will be a huge open stairwell at the front, leading to booth seating on different levels (like the old Homeplate) as well as traditional tables and chairs. In addition, according to Linda Snyder, Vice President for Campus Planning and Facilities, there will also be more lounge-y furniture, which she hopes will allow the Commons to serve the dual purposes of "dining during the day, and a social center at night."
The upstairs will be about the view: seating overlooks the open stairwell, a balcony above FoCo and a big hole in the floor directly above the food preparation area. Awesome. In addition, there will be seats on the south wall that look through six arched windows. Tucked into the back will be a private dining room that seats about 12, which would be perfect for lunch with a professor or a team dinner.
Students have been central to this renovation process according to Newlove.
"Sylvia Spears has made it very clear to us that student input is a huge part of this building," Newlove said.
For that reason, a 1953 Commons Advisory Committee of students was created to give voice to our opinions on the design.
"Students have been afforded a great opportunity to work directly with the architects," Aaron Limonthas '12, who sat on the committee, said.
And part of that leads to how we will shape the Commons as a social place. Yes, it is getting a makeover and a tricked out kitchen, but it is also being turned into a cool place for students to hang out. Everyone involved from the administration to students believes that the Commons will complement Collis as a fun place to be. So bear with the construction and the overcrowded dining halls, it will be worth the wait.
