By Graham Cook
Changes are currently being made to the Residence Dining Hall, the theatre, and the MBC atrium, to be ready by fall
Construction is underway at SFU’s Burnaby Campus as summer renovations are made to implement a variety of changes for the fall. The residence dining system on Burnaby Mountain will receive a complete overhaul, as well as renovations on the theatre adjacent to Convocation Mall. The SFSS is also doing renovations, with plans to re-do the Maggie Benston Centre (MBC) Atrium.
Mark McLaughlin, the executive director of Ancillary Services, spoke to The Peak about the upcoming changes to the dining system at the university, stating that they are “revitalizing the whole food program at the university, and the first steps are taking place this summer, and it is a two- or three-year process.” He added that, “for September there are going to be some pretty significant changes, especially in the Dining Hall and Mackenzie Cafe.”
The demolition of the Residence Dining Hall has already begun, with renovations tailored to match the new meal plan that is being introduced.
“We have had some complaints about that system; people run out of money half way through the term . . . there were different issues about value for the money,” said McLaughlin of the old format.
This new meal plan will instead include what is being called “any-time dining.” When the new plan is implemented, the dining hall will begin operating 24 hours a day. McLaughlin added that is a first in Canada, because, “in the past, if you showed up after seven o’clock, things were put away, things were kind of stale . . . a lot of the athletes get up early in the morning so they could not even eat at the dining hall.”
In addition, “any time dining” will do away with the declining balance nature of the meal plan. Instead, students will be able to choose either a five- or seven-day plan, which will most likely be priced at $1,350 and $1,650 respectively. McLaughlin added that while the Dining Hall will be ready in time for the Fall Semester, Mackenzie Cafe will be closed for six weeks for the renovations to be completed, though the Subway will remain open.
The theatre in Convocation Mall is also being upgraded. Work has been ongoing on the area for the past several months, and is scheduled to finish in the fall. McLaughlin stated that it will not be exclusively for the performing arts, but will accommodate a range of activities such as conferences and speaker tours.
Further renovations include $650,000 student society changes to the MBC Atrium. In an e-mail to The Peak, university relations officer Jeff McCann stated that they plan to improve the seating area.
“The seating area will feature nine microwaves, new flooring and lighting, electrical outlets, new booth seating and bar seating to increase total capacity . . . to make the space much more inviting to stay and chill as well as eat during peak hours,” said McCann. Three new food locations will be added, and The Ladle will be moved closer to the kitchen. Though this was planned to be done by the fall, McCann said that only the Ladle and new restaurant Opa! will be ready on schedule. The rest of the vendors will tentatively be open by Spring 2013 since they “were unable to secure tenants as quickly as originally anticipated . . . the spaces will be ready, the venors are the missing piece.”
As of August 1, the fees for using debit cards at the food venues will be eliminated. In addition, students will be able to use credit cards.
