New dining facilities to be built

The back green behind Champagnat Hall and the Student Center will receive a new addition to the current collection of buildings - an upgraded, completely separate dining facility, according to college administrators. While an exact design has not yet been finalized, said Director of Physical Plant Justin Butwell, the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill LLP has already created a rough conceptual design for the new dining facility.

"We haven't moved much past concept drawings on that," Butwell said. "Right now it's competing with other projects - housing is definitely the priority [at the moment]."

The hope, though, is that within the next few years the new building for dining will be complete. It is intended to meet the ever growing demands on campus space, providing a more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing environment for student use, said Associate Dean for Student Affairs Steve Sansola.

"The college is continually updating its master plan," Sansola said. We came to the conclusion that it was far better for the college to build a new facility.[than to] renovate the existing space."

Initial plans call for a green, or grass covered, roof in order to keep open areas available for students, and to maintain a view of the Hudson River. Sansola said that some of the other features might include "energy efficient glass" offering a panoramic view of the river, more environmentally friendly and efficient kitchen equipment, and a "restaurant style" interior design with carpeting, booths, and smaller tables placed further apart.

"The goal would be to make it [the new facility] more comfortable," said Assistant Dean of Student Life/Development Patricia Cordner, "with cozier dining more conducive to conversation."

Once the new building is finished, according to Cordner, the currently existing dining hall will be renovated to accommodate other activities, possibly comprising multipurpose rooms, offices, and other types of student facilities.

"The plan would be at the point they complete construction on the new dining hall, they'll begin renovating the existing space," said Cordner.

While finalized allocations for use of this expansive area is still being debated, the administration plans on granting at least part of the current dining hall to the Marist College Music Department, said Sansola.

"A big chunk of that space will be used to accommodate the music program," he said.

Sophomore Andrew Bosworth, a member of the Marist College Band, said that he is excited about the possibility of the Music Department getting additional facilities which can be used for both band and choral rehearsals.

"Well, I'm excited about it because we need the space," Bosworth said. "The Music Department's full - we barely fit in it now."

Manager of Music Department Operations Michael Napolitano also said that the department could use the room to expand, but cautioned that "space is an issue campus-wide - it doesn't just affect us. While it would be great for us to get our own space, it needs to work out so that no other department gets slighted."

Whatever the final cut is though, Napolitano said the new dining hall and Student Center renovations is "just a great enhancement for student services all around.