Renovation for Real Food on Campus residential restaurant estimated at $850,000 on board of trustees’ agenda

The Carey Hall Real Food on Campus residential restaurant could receive a $850,000 facelift if the CMU Board of Trustees approves the project proposal during the meeting Thursday.

The board meets at 10:30 a.m. in the Presidential Conference Room of the Bovee University Center.

Shaun Holtgreive, associate director of Residence Life, said the new facility will allow Residence Life to provide Towers residents a better living experience at CMU.

“It’s a much needed upgrade,” he said.

The proposal requests board authorization for “the planning, design, construction and equipping” of the first phase of the renovation project.

The Phase I renovation includes new seating and architectural elements. According to the proposal, the seating and architectural elements will create eight unique seating areas which will provide “multiple dining experiences.”

The project will also include a new front entrance, energy-efficient lighting enhancements, technology improvements and new signage, graphics and color palette.

The proposal states sustainability initiatives will be considered in all areas affected by the renovation.

If approved, the project will be funded by the auxiliary maintenance, renovation and replacement fund.

Allendale freshman Marjorie Wallington, a Cobb Hall resident, said she thinks the RFoC renovation is unnecessary because she feels it is already the second best dining hall on campus next to east campus’ Fresh Food Company.

“I feel like they need to renovate the one in north campus before ours because that one is awful,” she said. “I don’t want my tuition to go up because of it.”

Wayne sophomore David Kautz, a Cobb Hall resident, is a former RFoC employee. He said the facilities are fully functional and providing services to students is not difficult with the existing equipment. He doesn’t think the RFoC needs to be renovated.

“It would be more logical to appropriate money to the north and south campus facilities,” he said.

The only justification Kautz sees for the RFoC renovation is the RFoC sees the most traffic because it is one of two open on weekends. He also theorized many campus tours go through the Towers so having a nicer dining hall may boost CMU’s profile for the college-bound population.

“Still, that doesn’t seem like a good enough reason to renovate a facility that I don’t find anyone in the Towers complaining about or anyone else on campus,” he said.

Ron Souva, food service director for the RFoC, could not be reached for comment because of off-campus engagements.