Judging by the increased traffic, the first major renovation to Kimball Dining Hall in more than 20 years has been met with great enthusiasm.
The all-you-care-to-eat Kimball Dining Hall servery, which was renovated this summer, resulted in a 30 percent increase in traffic during the fall semester over the previous semester.
It’s not hard to see why it’s satisfying hungry students. The venerable Kimball Dining Hall now offers more dining options than ever before.
The new menus feature world cuisine, brick oven pizza, a super-food-inspired station, handcrafted deli sandwiches and made-to-order-style cooking. Food stations in the open-floor space include classic/entrée, breakfast, grill, stir-fry, pasta, soup, bread, pizza, deli, salad, and dessert (made daily in the campus bakery, the Kimball Sweet Shoppe). Other options include a fruit and yogurt bar with granola and fruit-infused filtered water.
The most popular dishes are stir-fry, turkey burgers, signature steak and cheese sandwiches, and rotisserie chicken, according to Lynn Cody, marketing coordinator for Dining.
In keeping with Dining’s strong commitment to sustainability, the new colorful fiesta ware was purchased from the only manufacturer that still produces in America, The Home Laughlin China Co.
Holy Cross Dining, which has received more than a dozen national awards in the last decade, strives to serve students no matter their dietary restrictions. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are available, and special food allergy services — including the allergy-free kitchen introduced years ago — are still available.
Dining also introduced an unlimited meal plan option last semester. The new plan provides unlimited meals in Kimball, allowing students to come and go as often as they’d like throughout the day during operating hours.
The changes were informed by intensive, on-campus student surveys. Physical Plant and Dining Services staff worked together with architectural, design and construction firms to plan and execute the renovation.
Generous alumni from the class of 1964 helped make the renovation a reality. In honor of their 50th reunion, the class of 1964 dedicated their Holy Cross Fund gift to the Kimball project, raising $1,091,614 for the Fund. Their record-breaking gift was heralded by the class of 1964 reunion committee, led by class chair Ron Maheu and reunion chair Paul La Camera.
Kimball Hall has served as a place for students to take sustenance, meet friends, hang out and study for more than 80 years. Alumni who recall the beautiful seating area need not worry — the wooden tables, high ceilings, and chandeliers weren’t touched. Kimball seats 823.
Lauren Haley ’16, an accounting major from Weymouth, Mass., appreciates the changes.
“I love the new Kimball Dining Hall,” she says. “The layout looks great, and the food tastes much better because it is made-to-order. I know students are happy with it!”
Related Information
Photo Gallery: Kimball Dining Hall Servery Receives Major Revamp
Traffic to main campus dining hall increases 30 percent
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