2008 Woodie Awards
Garvey overhaul expected finished by the start of fall
Kyle Kuphal
Issue date: 7/2/07 Section: News
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Anyone who has walked by Centennial Hall since last April can see a major project is underway, but there are also renovations being made to Garvey Commons.
"Centennial Hall is in the second phase which involves renovations to the first floor and basement and a small addition to the first and second floor," said Steven Ludwig, vice president of administrative affairs for the past six years. "The area will be used primarily for classrooms in the basement and first floor with the addition used for offices for student services."
He said the project is moving along as planned and should be done in December.
"This is the end of a $13 million project funded by legislative approval of general obligation bonds," Ludwig said.
The campus bookstore in Centennial Hall remains open but is only accessible from the library side entrance. The rest of the first floor is boarded off due to construction. The basement is also closed.
The remodeling being done to Garvey Commons may not be as noticeable when walking by, but major renovations are taking place.
"It is part of the work anticipated in the contract with Sodexho and is being funded and coordinated by them," Ludwig said.
He said work includes improvements to the serving area and the dinning room as well as the addition of a new dishwasher.
Garvey patrons need not worry though, as things should be up and running by the fall.
Stephen Miller, general manager for Sodexho on campus, said work on Garvey should be done by mid-August and would definitely be done when the fall semester begins in September.
"There's no exact date yet, but it's coming along on schedule," Miller said. "The whole look is being changed. New carpet, new chairs and painting."
Some walls have even been knocked out during the renovation to allow people to get around easier.
"It's a total remodel of Garvey Commons," Miller said.
When finished, Garvey will have a look similar to Pandinis in the basement of Atwood and will offer a variety of new meal options.
Much of the food including salads, sautés, donuts and rolls "will be made in front of customers to show freshness," Miller said.
With the removal of a few walls and repositioning of counters, the goal of the new design is to "allow easier flow to let as many people through as possible as easily as possible," he said.
Better flow is important, since last year Garvey served about 2,500 people per meal, Miller said.
Sodexho's design team, who worked with an interior designer as well as on-campus groups such as RHA and SGA, developed the new layout.
Miller said the whole project will cost about $1.5 million. The amount will be paid for by Sodexho and was in the original contract with SCSU.