By EMMA LAUS
The 2024 fall semester at Beloit has been defined by multiple construction projects. For the first couple months of class, large equipment and gaping pits in the ground surrounded the newly renovated library. The official opening of DK’s was delayed due to ongoing construction, and parts of Pearsons are still taped off. Now, the college has launched into its latest construction project: the relocation of the dining hall to the Powerhouse.
The initiative to update the campus’s dining options has been a priority in recent years. According to Daniel Schooff, the vice president of advancement and facilities, the kitchen equipment in Commons has become outdated. “When equipment wears out, the overall ability to serve consistent meals out of Commons starts to deteriorate,” says Schooff. “Bon Appetit is a very reputable firm, and in some ways we may have had an arm tied behind their back by having a kitchen that was due for a renovation. I think it made their work harder to accomplish.”
The college had two goals: renovate Commons and bring a dining option to the academic side of campus. However, when going over costs, it became clear that the budget could not cover both. The renovation of Commons alone was estimated to cost $4,000,000, making it impossible to open a second dining option across campus.
However, there was a way to work around this barrier — the dining hall could be moved to the second floor of the Powerhouse. This project would cost $2,250,000, and the construction in DK’s came to a total of $1,400,000, making the combined projects cheaper than renovating Commons alone.
The space will co-opt the name of the former Powerhouse dining option: Hamiltons. It is scheduled to open by the beginning of the 2025 spring semester. Schooff acknowledges that the location can be inconvenient for many residence halls, and the walk along the bridge is not optimal. “The leaders of the college, the board…we have to make tradeoffs,” Schooff says. “I think people will get used to just walking across the bridge to come here for the regular meals.”
However, he is optimistic about the change, hoping that the foot traffic will help make the Powerhouse more of a space for community. He also mentions that the new arrangement will offer diners more flexibility, saying, “What’s cool is that you could go downstairs to eat, or on a nice day, you can go out on the deck. That’s the main difference… just the flexibility across the space.” There will be a variety of seating options; most tables will be smaller than the long ones currently found in Commons. Students can also eat in booths and throughout the Powerhouse, if they choose.
While this will certainly be a large adjustment, the change will bring life to the Powerhouse. And for those who will miss the loud noises and construction equipment once this project is completed, don’t even worry. The first floor of Chapin, right in the heart of the residential side of campus, may be next!
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