Liberty University, Reber Thomas Dining Hall and Founders Food Court

Lynchburg, Virginia

Firm

Sodexo, Inc.

Client

Liberty University

Area

47,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$2,800,000

Completion Date

08/2007

Liberty University’s Reber Thomas Dining Hall and Founders Food Court were renovated in summer 2007. Both locations on the 5,000-acre campus were in dire need of a facelift. Reber Thomas and Founders, the largest dining facilities on campus, see the majority of student, faculty and staff traffic. To keep up with the rapidly growing student body and meet the needs of an on-the-go population,
Sodexo Campus Services had to provide necessary changes to these two key dining locations.
Designed by Atlantic Equipment Specialists’ Lisa Millard (who was a contestant on last season’s HGTV’s “Design Star”), the new dining facilities feature eye-catching colors and textures. In addition to aesthetic changes, more streamlined services were taken into account in planning renovations. Restructuring the layout of both locations was necessary to provide the best possible service.
Reber Thomas Dining Hall has been the main dining facility on campus since 1992. By 2007, the interior was more than ready for an overhaul. Because the facility feeds up to 3,000 students per meal period, efficiency and flow were the primary concerns in renovation plans. The new layout allows food stations to be spread throughout the dining hall, preventing long lines and giving students easier access to the specific food items they want. In addition to a more economical design, the renovations also offered a much more appealing dining environment. Students are able to sit with large groups of friends or hide away in little nooks to study.
Founders Food Court, situated in the North Campus academic building, meets an entire different set of needs from its counterpart, Reber Thomas. The already busy location was expanded to accommodate demand, offering more dining options and doubling seating capacity. Founders Food Court now consists of six restaurants, including Chick-fil-A, Jazzman’s coffee shop and Southern Tsunami Sushi.
Both locations look better than ever and have been well-received. The vibrant and existing renovations were met with rave reviews from students returning from summer break, confirming that the updates were a worthwhile investment.

Additional Information

Cost per Sq Ft

$60.00

Featured in

2008 Educational Interiors

Interior category

Cafeterias/Food-Service Areas

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