After a 14-month long, $4 million overhaul, the new Atrium food court opened Friday morning and is ready to serve students and faculty at full capacity.
The new Atrium came to fruition after a series of renovations, the first of which occurred in May 2010. The staggered construction allowed food service to continue and keep students fed while the building was renovated.
The most recent renovations – which began in May 2011 with the destruction of the Brickyard Bubble – took place over the summer when the Atrium was temporarily closed. The latest renovations focused on the new seating section and its aesthetics , as well as the kitchen and ventilation system.
Some minor changes, including new signage, aim to improve circulation and foot traffic at the popular lunch spot. This was in response to many students who complained they could never grab a quick bite to eat in-between classes, according to Jennifer Gilmore, marketing manager for Campus Enterprises. In addition, the Atrium will also be open until 10 p.m .
The new, colorful indoor seating area sports redone lighting and an increased capacity – now up to 435 from 370 seats – made possible by bringing part of the old patio and outdoor seating inside, according to the N.C . State Dining blog.
The kitchen received a slew of improvements, including equipment that has been updated to meet Wake County code. Other improvements include a new heating and air conditioning system, sprinkler system, restrooms and mechanical rooms.
Gilmore said the renovations were badly needed.
“I remember once I went back to the kitchen, and it was blazing hot back there,” Gilmore said. “Now it feels really nice; it’s a much more pleasant space in general.”
Gilmore also said she was glad to see all the new faces eager to explore the changes.
“It was really gratifying to stand in the front lobby today and see all the students with this wide-eyed look of ‘wow’ and see how much they appreciate it,” Gilmore said. “And it was only possible because we have some really talented people who oversaw this project.”
To celebrate the reopening over the weekend, Campus Enterprises partnered with N.C . State Bookstores to sponsor the Brickyard Block Party. There, students could partake in a host of activities and events, including a ribbon cutting, giveaways for the first 100 customers and a live DJ and corn hole, according to the NCSU Dining blog. The end of the celebration coincided with the start of Cates Crawl, which kept up the influx of new students.
Kelley Brackett , public communication specialist with Campus Enterprises, said she was also happy with the overall response.
“A lot of freshmen and parents came by; the place was really busy,” Brackett said. “I’m very pleased with how many faces showed up.”
Both returning and new students seemed to appreciate the new look and features, including Bert McLeod, a sophomore in international studies, who said it looks “pretty cool,” and that he thinks he might be spending more time there this semester.
Jamell Culler , a junior in accounting, said he especially liked the visual changes.
“It looks much more attractive and has a more modern feel,” Culler said. “I like the tinted windows and extra space, too.”
Freshman in geology Brandon Szakasits said it looked “very contemporary,” and the food options met his expectations as well.
Justin Wilson, a senior in communication media, said he thinks all the new changes in the past year or so were “well worth the wait.”
The last time the Atrium underwent such significant renovation was in 1985, when there was about 10,000 fewer students on campus, according to Gilmore.
Brackett and Gilmore said the changes to dining options in the Atrium are aimed to raise the level of expectation for Talley Student Center, which is also undergoing a major overhaul and can now receive full attention in terms of dining renovations on campus.
