OSU to Start Construction on Central Market Place
Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., recently announced that construction will soon begin on a new campus dining facility. Citing outdated facilities and student feedback on social media, the university will replace the existing Kerr-Drummond dining complex with Central Marketplace, a 31,000-square-foot facility with four dining options and a capacity for about 300 guests, according to a news release. The project will cost about $22 million.
“We get a lot of feedback about dining on social media, and we really listen to what the students are saying and try to put a lot of thought into these concepts based on feedback that we’ve received,” said Student Union Marketing assistant director Debbie Shotwell.
Dining options available in Central Market Place will include:
- Byte: A restaurant with a “ghost kitchen” concept that will serve a diverse, rotating menu. Guests will place their orders via kiosk or mobile app, and the meal will be prepped behind closed doors and delivered through a wall of lockers.
- Caribou Coffee: The franchise will serve traditional and specialty coffee drinks, as well as bakery items.
- 405 Deli: The sandwich shop will move from the existing Kerr-Drummond dining complex into the new dining facility to serve salads and gourmet sandwiches.
- 1890 Market: The market will serve as a rebranding of the university’s on-campus convenience store in Kerr-Drummond. It will provide items like groceries, snacks, necessities, and grab-and-go items, according to the university news release.
Central Market Place has an estimated completion date of fall 2024. After construction is finished, the university plans to demolish Kerr-Drummond to make room for student parking.
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Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].