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

  • Indiana University Launches Capital Campus in D.C.

    Indiana University recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new IU Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., according to university news. The eight-story facility will provide a central hub for the university’s existing programs and business operations based in D.C., uniting them under one roof and providing the opportunity to expand.

  • Photo credit - Chuck Coates

    Florida District Modernizes Central Energy Plants at Two High Schools

    Flagler Schools, a public school district in Flagler County, Fla., recently partnered with Matern Professional Engineering to modernize the central energy plants at two of its high schools, according to a news release. The project is part of a larger, district-wide effort to reduce energy costs and operational expenses.

  • Secret to Efficient, On-Time School Infrastructure & Modernization Projects is All in the Preparation

    Warmer weather and longer days make summer the ideal time for construction and modernization projects at educational facilities. School boards and construction firms must coordinate effectively to ensure that these projects do not extend even a single day into the school year and impede classroom operation.

  • Johns Hopkins Starts Construction on New Residence Hall, Dining Facility

    The Homewood Campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., recently began construction on a new residence hall and dining facility, according to university news. The work involves demolishing the existing Alumni Memorial Residence Hall I, which was built in 1923, to make room for the new facility.