Guy Procopio, the director of Culinary Services, said this project is important to start bringing parity to the East Neighborhood dining halls. Akers Hall is in need because it has an aging facility.

There only have been minor face lifts and upgrades to seating and food concepts in the past 30 years, and it was time for the hall to be renovated, Procopio said.

The upgrades are expected to be similar in design to recent renovations at Case Hall and Brody Square, but Procopio said designers still are studying possibilities for specific features for the dining hall.

“Akers has never had a major renovation,” Procopio said in an email. “The benefits (of the dining hall renovations) are impacting both today’s students and future students.”

If the board approves the authorization to plan, the Physical Plant also would need to submit an authorization to proceed to the board in order to start construction.

Procopio said the Akers dining hall is scheduled to shut down in May 2014 and reopen in January 2015, but it will depend on whether the proposal is approved by the trustees.

University engineer Bob Nestle said the entire project is estimated to cost about $20 million, but could change since it’s in the early stages.

It also was announced during last week’s meeting that Akers Hall would receive a new Sparty’s convenience store. However, Procopio said the current plans do not project a new Sparty’s will be built.

Psychology freshman Alex Fontana currently lives in Akers Hall and is glad the dining hall could be renovated, although it won’t be done until he is a junior.

“It would bring a lot more attention to people other than Akers (residents) if they want to try a new (dining hall),” Fontana said. “(It would be good) to make it more comfortable and modernized for us because (students) will be living here for about a year.”

The Akers Hall renovation would follow the Brody Square, Case Hall, Shaw Hall and Landon Hall dining hall renovations and would complete the five-year master plan to update the campus’ dining halls, Procopio said.

“Providing dining is more than just about health and wellness, it also adds to building community and supporting personal growth and development,” Procopio said. “The overall dining experience supports students who are on the go.”