MSU dining hall renovations planned for summer 2011
Students can expect to see changes in Maxwell Student Union next year as Sodexo Inc.’s contract expires and a complete remodeling of the dining hall is planned.
Auxiliary Services Executive Director Kyle Cullars explained that the school’s 10-year contract with Sodexo will expire in 2011, and that according to state law the university must solicit competitive bids for the new contract.
“I’m sure Sodexo will bid on it, as probably will Aramark and Chartwells, and there are a couple of others out there that may have some interest in it,” Cullars said.
Auxiliary Services plans to have a request for proposal – a detailed description of the needs and requirements that helps vendors bid – written and released by November, which is the planned deadline for bids. Cullars hopes to have a contractor chosen by March 2011.
When asked what changes students might see, Cullars said he expects improvements from the company that receives the contract.
“If you’re going to go to the effort of writing (a request for proposal) and putting it out on the street, we’re obviously going to be asking for more than we’re getting now in terms of service and facilities, and all that kind of stuff,” Cullars said.
In addition to a new contractor, Cullars said the university plans a “total gutting” and subsequent remodeling of the main dining hall. He estimated that the renovation would cost around $3 million.
One improvement sophomore exercise science major Kelsey Fosnough said she would like to see in would be for the dining hall’s tables to be arranged better.
“I think that would be good, having a change,” Fosnough said.
The renovations will change the dining hall’s layout, with what Cullars called a platform dining concept.
“Around the dining room, we’ll have one station that’s an Italian station, we’ll have another station that’s a deli, we’ll have another station that’s a grill, and that kind of thing,” Cullars said. “So we’ll spread all that around the dining room, we’ll have seating in between those, and we’ll have different themes for each of those areas.”
Regarding the timing of the renovation work, Cullars said it would begin after the 2011 spring semester. The plan is to have the renovations completed by the time the 2011 fall semester begins.
The work could affect people who use Main Campus during the 2011 summer, such as those taking part in summer camps, conferences, orientation sessions and students attending summer classes.
“We’ll have to make other arrangements to accommodate those needs,” Cullars said.
Sophomore pre-engineering major Morris Jones gave the planned renovation work a cautious endorsement, depending on where the money for the upgrades comes from. But, there was one thing that would get him fully behind the renovations.
“If they have trays (for food), I’m for it,” Jones said.
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