Concordia’s cafeteria received an upgrade over the summer. Learn more about the decisions behind the new design.
Concordia’s Siebert Dining Hall – colloquially called “the caf” – recently received a spruce. It had been 20 years since the last time the caf was updated. This latest project aimed to modernize and update décor, as well as utilize the footprint of the room more strategically and efficiently to provide guests with an overall improved dining experience.
“We’re thrilled to be able to provide a fresh eating space for CUW students,” says Chief of Staff and Vice President for Innovation Steve Taylor, EdD, who oversaw the project. “When all is said and done, students will spend a large portion of their college experience in the cafeteria, and so it’s really exciting that we were able to make Siebert Dining Hall a more enjoyable and high-impact space for them.”
Here are a few reasons to love the new design:
Prioritizing prime real estate
One of the main objectives of the project was to move the dishwashing equipment/station to free up “a prime location” for seating and dining. Moving the dishwasher away from the east wall allowed contractors to restore windows that once occupied the exterior wall of the cafeteria and allow more natural lighting into the cafeteria.
“The builders were actually able to uncover the original windows from when the School Sisters of Notre Dame occupied the building,” says Taylor. “We harvested those spaces and installed new glass to give a nod to the historical design.”
New entrance
The relocation of the dishwasher also allowed contractors to better utilize a “dead” hallway that previously existed in the northeast corner of the cafeteria. They turned that space into the main entrance of the cafeteria. Now, when diners enter the caf they’re afforded a better vantage of all the eating options available, preventing bottle necks from forming upon immediate entrance.
The new entrance also permits overflow into the Chapel Hallway (a wider corridor) for the long lines that sometimes form around the noon hour. Digital signage has been added outside the caf’s main entrance to display the day’s menu.
Lighter and brighter
In combination with the windows that were returned to the exterior wall, the contractors brightened up the space by adding more light fixtures with higher efficiency LED lighting. The warm-hued walls received a crisp white and teal-blue paint job, and a multi-tone wooden accent wall was added for visual impact. The overall effect is a lighter and brighter space.
Varied seating options
The seating capacity in the new caf stayed relatively the same at around 400 people; however, diners have far more seating options now, including high-tops, low-tops, benches, and tables that can accommodate anywhere from two to 18 people at a time.
The dishwasher space was repurposed into a semi-private alcove that can accommodate groups of around 50 people. The northwest corner boasts another semi-private space. These spaces may be reserved in EMS for small-group functions. Groups can utilize the TV monitors and sound system for presentations. When the spaces are not in use for meetings or gatherings, they will be utilized as open seating for students.
“Some students like to use the caf for social time and others may want to put in some solitary studying,” Taylor says. “Ultimately, our caf gets used in a variety of ways, and we wanted the seating to be able to accommodate that.”
Flooring
In terms of flooring, Taylor and contractors opted for luxury vinyl tile flooring, a more durable and sanitary alternative to the carpeting that used to cover the caf. A bird’s eye view will reveal the tiling depicts a sort of mosaic of land, beach, and water coming together.
“Our location overlooking Lake Michigan is a hallmark of our campus,” Taylor says. “Water also holds great symbolism and meaning within our Christian faith, and so we liked the idea of the cafeteria having a visual representation of our connections to water.”
Some added bonuses
The caf upgrade also included new plates, cups, and a few new food stations, including a condiment station, new ice cream machine, new salad bar, and more capacity for the allergen-free station.
Learn more
Through its contract with Sodexo, Concordia offers a variety of meal plans for residential and commuter students. Faculty, staff, and guests are also welcome to dine in the cafeteria. View meal plan options and pricing by clicking on the link below.