Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

James Madison University: D-Hall Dining Facilities

  • 11/01/19

The new D-Hall dining facility on the campus of James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, VA, officially opened fall semester of 2018. Designed by Moseley Architects in association with Tipton Associates, the contemporary, three-story, 101,000-square-foot building replaces the removed Gibbons Hall which originally sat in its place. Skanska was the contractor for the project.

James Madison University D-Hall Dining Facilities 

Photos courtesy Skanska USA

The name of the new dining hall pays homage to the former which was known on campus as D-Hall, built in the mid-1960s. This new dining hall reflects James Madison’s high level of commitment to providing its students with exceptional campus food and facilities. Offering additional seating and entrances directly from the campus commons, the dining facility serves as the centerpiece of one of the most highly regarded college food service programs in the country. James Madison was listed 10th in the nation in the 2018 Best College Food in America rankings by Niche.com.

James Madison University D-Hall Dining Facilities 

Photos courtesy Skanska USA

With a total occupancy load of just over 3,000, the facility includes a kitchen, scullery, serving area, indoor and outdoor seating facilities, associated offices and administrative areas, loading dock and storage facilities, public restrooms, staff locker and shower facilities, and custodial and utility spaces. The project is targeting LEED Silver certification.

James Madison University D-Hall Dining Facilities 

Photos courtesy Skanska USA

The first floor houses national restaurant brands such as Chickfil-A®, previously available on campus, and new-to-JMU options including Qdoba, Steak ’n Shake, and Freshens Food Studio. Steak ’n Shake even has a walk-up window for extended hours.

James Madison University D-Hall Dining Facilities 

Photos courtesy Skanska USA

The second floor, with a central back-of-house support core area for the foodservice platforms, features an all-you-can-eat buffet in a larger, more open environment with expanded menu options. It has balconies with outdoor seating. The third floor features banquet space.

James Madison University D-Hall Dining Facilities 

Photos courtesy Skanska USA

Additionally, outdoor dining at the main and lower levels is provided to serve both residential and retail dining areas.

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2019 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • How Proactive Maintenance Can Transform Athletic Facilities into Strategic Assets for College Sports

    College athletics is entering one of the most transformative periods in its history. With NIL reshaping financial models and competitive expectations, athletic departments across the country are being asked to do more than ever with increasingly constrained resources.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.