The university’s ultimate vision for campus cafeterias is one step closer to completion with the opening of Holden Hall’s renovated cafeteria and about $20 million worth of ongoing construction updates at Case Hall.
Holden Hall’s cafeteria — which reopened for the start of fall semester — now features four new food stations, similar in style to Brody Square.
At Holden, students now can choose from vegetarian and meatless dining options, homestyle foods, ethnic cuisine and a variety of desserts and hand-dipped ice cream at each of the four separate stations.
Exact numbers regarding the Holden Hall cafeteria’s budget could not be obtained Tuesday.
Renovations at Case Hall — which is slated to reopen in January 2012 — will add both seating space for about 250 additional patrons and an undetermined number of cook-to-order stations.
The Board of Trustees approved the project earlier this year, and officials said earlier this summer that construction was progressing smoothly, despite initial difficulties with the design.
The project’s design representative Dave Wilber said earlier this year officials wanted design the renovations to limit academic disruptions in the hall, which houses MSU’s James Madison College.
Culinary services officials are confident the project will add to the hall’s dynamics.
“The overall neighborhood dining experience will be enhanced,” said Guy Procopio, MSU’s director of culinary services, when discussing Case Hall in a June interview with The State News.
The cafeteria overhaul at Holden falls in line with about $9.45 million in renovations that have taken place there during the past two years.
The renovations include upgrades to the community kitchens, enhanced security and renovated common areas.
Holden’s new cafeteria has drawn favorable reviews from some students, and many of the tables were packed while a line snaked out the door during lunchtime on Tuesday.
Landscape architecture sophomore Jordan Clevey said he thinks Holden’s cafeteria is a noticeable improvement over the old one.
“They definitely just kind of revamped it and made it better,” he said.
Clevey said he also is looking forward to the completion of Case Hall’s cafeteria.
“It’s going to add a lot of good stuff to south campus,” he said.
Psychology freshman and Holden Hall resident Kaitlyn Bunyak said she enjoys the variety of cuisine offerings at Holden Hall.
She also said the close location is much more convenient than traveling to Brody Square for vegetarian-style food.
“I would prefer this (cafeteria) because it’s closer,” she said. “I like eating in my own hall.”
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