This fall in Reamer: serving up a new dining experience

Plan for new second-floor Reamer dining shows infill section (bottom, center) for expanded entry and seating

Architectural rendering shows new Reamer dining entry facing north

Students, faculty and staff can look forward to this fall, when a renovated dining facility on the second floor of the Reamer Campus Center will feature eight distinctive and diverse serving stations, expanded seating and more open space.

Goals of the project are to reduce wait times, move away from buffet line serving and provide more seating options.

Behind the scenes, work has already started on this ambitious upgrade. For the new venue to be up-and-running in time for the arrival of students in mid-August, work must begin in earnest before the end of the academic year.

As a result, the campus community will see some changes in dining options in the final weeks of the spring term.

The schedule

Starting Thursday, May 25

Starting Tuesday, June 6

"We have made every effort to minimize disruption at the end of the term," said Marc Donovan, director of facilities. New signs will help direct traffic flow, he said.

Tim Forte, district manager for American Dining Creations, added that planning included consideration of the typical decline in student use during the last two weeks of the term. After June 5, seniors will have a range of other dining options as part of Senior Week events, he said.

Popular items from the 807 Deli, one of the busiest options in Reamer, will be offered in Dutch Hollow through June 5, said Forte.

Among upcoming special events are LobsterFest on May 26 (with live music by Hot Chelle Rae), Rathskeller barbecue every Wednesday, and pop-up events.

A new, expanded dining area

Reamer dining service area facing west

The project will include an infill on the second floor, which is now open to the top of the building. This new floor space will create 75 new seats, a new entryway and more circulation area.

A total of 325 seats will include tables, booths and "high tops." The expanded dining area in Reamer will allow access by students of all class years, as will all of Union dining facilities.

The second-floor Reamer dining facility typically serves lunch and dinner to between 800 and 850, a number that will be more easily accommodated in the new space, Forte said.

Notably, the renovation will expand dining access to all students. "What is really exciting is that with Reamer dining in full operation this fall, all students can eat anywhere on campus," said Matt Milless, assistant vice president for student affairs.

Thanks for resilience, dedication

Upperclass Dining and the Reamer Campus Center Auditorium have been out of operation since February, when a broken sprinkler main flooded the northwest section of the building.

Staff from across campus – most notably Facilities, Campus Safety and Dining – were quick to respond. Dining reinvented second-floor Reamer offerings in College Park Hall. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. After the Reamer flood, Student Forum hosted a bagel thank you breakfast for the Dining team. The Faculty Executive Council presented a resolution of appreciation to staff of Dining and Facilities.

"Spring term has demonstrated the resilience of our team and their dedication to serving our students, faculty and staff," Forte said. "We also are so appreciative of the students, particularly our seniors who have been tremendously resilient.

"They have been engaged and very sensitive to what the members of our team have been going through."

Dining area on west end of new Reamer facility

First-floor view of Reamer below infill area for new dining facility