Purdue News
Purdue News
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August 9, 2004 Purdue's Stadium Ave. Dining Court opens for fall semesterWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University students will have more food choices and a new dining environment this year with the completion and opening of the Stadium Avenue Dining Court this month.
The more than $18 million project, with 12,750 feet of dining space and seating for 800, has opened for University Residences employees for lunch only and will open to students on a limited basis on Aug. 16, the start of Boiler Gold Rush. The dining facility will open to students, faculty, staff and the community on Aug. 20. A Chinese dragon dance will be performed at noon on Aug. 21 at the dining hall to celebrate the opening. Stadium Avenue Dining Court, at the intersection of Stadium Avenue and Russell Street, is the third of five new or redesigned dining courts in the multi-phase Food Service Master Plan for University Residences. Earhart and Hillenbrand dining courts opened after remodeling in the fall of 2003. Windsor and Wiley dining courts, which will be created as additions to the existing buildings, are slated to open by 2005 and 2007 respectively.
"We surveyed our students to determine their preferences," said Sarah Johnson, director of dining services for Purdue University Residences. "This is what they want, as evidenced by our success with the opening of Earhart Dining Court last year." The Stadium Avenue Dining Court features marketplace-style dining that allows diners to peruse and choose from food stations that are distinctive in their décor and food offerings. Much of the food is prepared in front of the customer. Selections include: hearth-baked pizzas; Southeast Asian style dishes; home-style entrees, hot vegetables and carved meats; greens, fresh vegetables, fruit and soups; fried and grilled foods; sliced meat and cheese, international wraps and made-to-order entrée salads; and a wide variety of desserts including fresh-baked pies, self-serve hand-dipped and soft ice cream and their signature cookies that measure about six inches across.
Edward L. Whiteley, a Purdue food service worker and one of the first to eat at Stadium Avenue Dining Court, gave the food two thumbs up during the first day employee lunches were served. Other staff and administrators said they were equally pleased. "I am really looking forward to trying the smoked brisket and ribs," said Ernest Poland, director of University Residences and a certified barbeque judge. A smoker is one of the features of "Potato, Potäto" (pronounced potayto, potahto), where hot vegetables, smoked and roasted meats are the specialties. Considerable thought went into the planning and design of the exterior as well as the interior of the 62,325-square-foot building, Johnson said. "The exterior design acts as a transition of eras, situated between the traditional Cary Quadrangle, built from 1927 to 1940, and Owen Hall, built in 1957," she said. "It is contemporary, with traditional features that blend the two styles." Work began in February 2003. The building includes 12,750 square feet of dining space, 5,100 square feet in the preparation and serving areas and 6,775 square feet of kitchen, storage and dishwashing space. Scholer Corporation, of Lafayette, Ind., is the architect. Kettlehut Construction Co. of Lafayette, Ind., is the general contractor. Ricca NewMark Design, of Denver, Colo., is the interior designer. Regular hours will be Mon. - Fri., breakfast, 6:30 - 9:30 a.m.; lunch, 11a.m. - 2 p.m.; dinner, 5 - 8:30 p.m. Weekend hours are: Saturday, breakfast, 8 - 9:30 a.m., lunch and dinner, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sunday, breakfast and lunch, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Writer: Reni Winter, (765) 496-3133, rwinter@purdue.edu Sources: Sarah Johnson, (765) 494-1000, scjohnson@purdue.edu Ernest Poland, (765) 494-1000, efpoland@purdue.edu John Sautter, vice president for housing and food services, (765) 494-1022 Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu Note to Journalists: Media are welcome to schedule a visit to the dining hall prior to or during the opening. Related Web sites: PHOTO CAPTION 1: An exterior view of the newly constructed Stadium Avenue Dining Court at the intersection of Russell Street and Stadium Avenue on the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University. The market-place style dining court is one of five dining courts being constructed in the university's effort to give the students of today what they want in centrally located dining. (News Service Photo/Dave Umberger) PHOTO CAPTION 2: Gayle Russell, dining court associate, and Mike Smith, student supervisor, serve food to other University Residences employees on the first day of operation for the Stadium Avenue Dining Court at the intersection of Russell Street and Stadium Avenue on the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University. (News Service Photo/Dave Umberger) PHOTO CAPTION 3: University Residences staff members are the first to taste the fare during the first week of operation at Stadium Avenue Dining Court at the intersection of Russell Street and Stadium Avenue on the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University. The staff members are the only customers at the dining court for its first two weeks of operation. (News Service Photo/Dave Umberger)
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