CU-Boulder To Upgrade Libby Hall Dining Facility

The Department of Housing at the University of Colorado at Boulder has begun the next phase in elevating the standard for dining services. After completing the first phase, the "Alley @ Farrand Hall" in July, design plans for the Libby Hall dining area are being prepared for review and work is scheduled to begin during winter break.

"The new Libby dining hall will retain a traditional 'all you can eat' dining model while improving the quality of surrounding residential life and dining services by adding state-of-the-art equipment and design," said Tim Kash, manager of facilities, equipment and operations for dining services.

The plan calls for the upstairs dining hall to remain open for the fall semester with renovation work beginning during winter break. The $6 million project is expected to be completed sometime in fall 2003. Nona's Pantry and the Villa Italia, which previously occupied the basement floor of Libby as temporary food outlets, have been closed due to the opening of the Alley. That area will be remodeled and reopened at a later time as a lounge and study area.

While the Alley presents various food court concepts, Libby will offer traditional entrees as well as new menu items, due to a state-of-the-art kitchen. Other changes expected in the renovation include replacing tables and chairs, adding new carpeting and repainting the walls. The walls that currently separate the two dining areas will be removed to tie the two dining rooms and open kitchen together.

Additionally, the atmosphere of the new Libby dining hall will complement the urban setting of the Alley. Because the Flatirons and Folsom Field can be seen from the windows of Libby, dining services is opting for a more natural tone that will include stone tiles, natural materials and a new lighting system to present an outdoor terrace environment.

Like Farrand, plans for Libby will share the same environmental standards for water and electricity conservation, and will reduce the amount of garbage by using environmentally friendly equipment.

One of the major goals to improve residential life in Libby is to decrease the number of security checkpoints. Currently, residents must use their keys to enter each of the wings. The renovation will allow dining customers to bypass the residential area altogether with the addition of an alternate route.

For more information contact Kash at (303) 492-6830 or visit the Dining Services Web site at housing.colorado.edu/dining/.