Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Brown University Completes Dining Hall Renovations

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/08/22

Brown University in Providence, R.I., recently completed a $3-million renovation of one of its campus dining facilities, according to university news. Renovations to Verney-Woolley Dining Hall began in May and consisted largely of “back of the house” changes including increased cooler and freezer space, more storage space for dry food and a new energy-efficient dishwasher, according to Vice President of Dining Services George Barboza.

The renovations were spurred primarily by the opening of the new nearby Sternlicht Commons dorm, as well as complaints from dining hall workers about the lack of storage space.

Renovations to the front-facing part of the dining hall include a new seating area with natural light, vinyl flooring and the addition of an allergy-free pantry for students with dining restrictions.

Construction was originally budgeted for $1.8 million, and the university partnered with Shawmut Design and Construction for the project. “Soft costs” like furnishing and the new dishwasher were budgeted for about $1.2 million, said Barboza.

Construction difficulties included mold on some of the HVAC pipes and inside the cooler walls, as well as the discovery of an unmarked pipe that delayed progress. “With the age of this building and the renovations that it’s had in the past, you open up the walls and things come to light,” said Ashley Shawyer, project manager at Shawmut. “We were not expecting the amount of curveballs thrown at us, but we had a great team all across the board from the Brown staff to the Shawmut staff that came together to make it work.”

The university also partnered with Moser Pilon/Nelson Architects for the project’s design.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • St. Lucie County, Fla., Breaks Ground on New K–8 School

    St. Lucie Public Schools in St. Lucie County, Fla., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new K–8 school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., for the design of the upcoming Ft. Pierce K–8 School, which comprises six buildings covering 215,000 square feet.

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • Haws Corporation Marks 120th Anniversary

    Haws Corporation, which provides hydration and emergency safety solutions worldwide, recently announced that the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, according to a news release.

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.