The renovated Dining Commons in Clet Hall opened Sept. 4, just in time for the start of the fall semester at Niagara University.
The enhanced facility features presentation-style cooking, a variety of seating options, bold colors and design elements that create an inviting environment for NU students to gather.
The addition to the Dining Commons is not scheduled to open for use until January 2017, and construction will continue on the site adjacent to the Dining Commons throughout the fall semester.
Once completed, the 20,000-square-foot Dining Commons will feature a number of improvements, including:
- An open kitchen concept with new food preparation and serving areas.
- New seating options, including banquette/booth seating, a mix of round, rectangular and square tables and chairs, lounge seating within the dining area, and high-top tables and stool seating.
- A new patio with green space, patio-style tables and chairs, flowering planters, and a rain barrel to support 875 square feet of green space for container plantings of herbs and native plants.
- A new dining addition with seating for 230 for sit-down dining. The addition can also be used for as a theater-style set-up for 250, with a projector and presentation screen.
- Mobile device charging stations, and digital televisions and displays.
- The new dining facility will also have a focus on energy efficiency. The facility will feature new rooftop units, kitchen equipment, and a dish washing machine, all of which will save utility expense.
The new dining facility is an $8 million investment, and Niagara University is pleased to partner with Metz Culinary Management on this project. In addition, NU has been working with local legislative leaders, including New York State Senator Robert G. Ortt and New York State Assemblyman John D. Ceretto, to make this project possible.