The Observatory Hill Dining Hall will open later than expected, according to officials from Facilities Management and the Office of Business Operations.
The dining hall originally was scheduled to open over Winter Break, and the timeline then was pushed back to Spring Break. The current estimate is to have the facility ready when students return to Grounds in the fall.
According to Libba Bowling, project manager of Facilities Planning and Construction, the facility failed a recent building inspection because of various safety issues. Problem spots included the elevator system, the fire alarm panel and unfinished floors.
"It was just a lot of little things," Bowling said.
The building has to pass several inspections before it can be eligible for an occupancy permit, Bowling said. The Commonwealth must then grant occupancy before any of the workers and food can move in.
According to Head of Operations Richard Kovatch, the inspections are scheduled to take place in the upcoming weeks. The fire marshal and the Bureau of Capital Outlay Management are scheduled to inspect the new building by the end of April. The BCOM has jurisdiction over all public buildings in Virginia.
Facilities Management and Dining Services are gearing up for the transition between the old and new buildings. According to Director of Dining Brent Beringer, preparation will include sanitizing the new building, installing the new food service equipment and training employees.
"It's not something you can open up over a weekend," Bowling said.
Beringer said the elaborate nature of the new facility will require more training. The dining hall will have a different configuration and more seating space. According to Beringer, there will be approximately 300 more seats in the new space for a total of about 1,000 seats.
"I think the biggest thing [students] will notice aside from the beauty of the space is that the kitchen is open and incorporated into the dining area," Beringer said.
He added that the new academic calendar created extra challenges for Observatory Hill Dining Hall operations.
"Because it is an early school year, we will need our employees to come back 30 days earlier, and it will cut short their vacation as well," he said.
Beringer said a lot of transition work will have to be done over the summer. He also said both the old and new facilities will be closed over the summer to accommodate the move.
Kovatch said the University makes six-year plans for its facilities and plans for the new Observatory Hill Dining Hall started years ago. He said the age of the original building and increasing enrollment numbers were strong factors in the decision to build a new hall.
Kovatch said the delays have affected the budget and caused the University to look past its initial financial plans.
"This project will be funded by a combination of Dining Services reserves and debt," he said.
Kovatch said the University project team and the Commonwealth have been cooperating closely to facilitate the construction and transition processes. He said he does not expect any obstacles to prevent the dining hall from opening next fall. Bowling also said she is confident the new dining hall will open by the end of August.
"I think it's something that is well worth waiting for, and I think it's going to be a wonderful facility," Kovatch said.
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