Courtesy of Virginia Tech
Voracious students stumbling out of academic buildings craving a gourmet meal will be satisfied in 2012 by a new dining hall, Turner Place.
Virginia Tech recently broke ground on the three-story, 90,000-square-foot multipurpose dining and academic that will be located on the academic side of campus on Old Turner Street next to the ICTAS building.
The $35.7 million project will include 8 restaurants and seat up to 700 patrons.
“Being on the academic side, we envision this facility being very popular,” said Ted Faulkner, current associate director of dining services.
Rick Johnson, former director of housing and dining in an interview in January 2009 said the two-floor dining area would be “super busy” once open because of its location near academic buildings. In addition to the 700 seats inside the building, there will be a heated patio designed to provide extra seating during colder months of the year, along with a walk-up, outdoor ordering window on the second floor for students in a rush.
The first floor of the building will be underground while the second floor will connect to the main entrance on Old Turner Street.
A 200-seat dining area dedicated to the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets is also planned for the first floor. Johnson said in 2009 that this area would help replace Shultz Hall, as the current corps dining facility will be turned over to the performing arts center renovation project slated to begin sometime this year.
Johnson said the dining room is designed with long tables to “preserve the traditions of the corps all eating together.”
The cadets eat dinner together four nights per week.
The process of adding a dining facility to the academic part of campus, according to Faulkner, began several years ago when a consulting firm visited the Tech campus and surveyed students. It became clear that students wanted a Qdoba and other restaurants that will appear in Turner Place, Faulkner said.
“We’re not trying to duplicate things that we’re already doing,” Faulkner said.
With this in mind, dining services is blending chain restaurants and other non-franchised options. Jamba Juice, a full-size Qdoba and Bruegger’s Bagels will be anchors of the dining hall. Attached to Bruegger’s Bagels will be an outdoor patio area and a walk-up window for orders on the go.
“Students can go (to Bruegger’s Bagels) without having to deal with crowds and finding a seat,” Faulkner said.
A version of this article appeared in the Feb 11 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 29 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
Good to know that VT students will soon have more options for junk food and won't have to walk as far to get it.
Reply to this Top
rocko, it's further from the residential areas (minus corp and Thomas) so most students have to walk FURTHER. If you went to VT, you'd know that.
Reply to this Top
Well genius, it's on the academic side of campus so students won't have to walk all the way across the drill field to get lunch on school days.
Top
If you went to VT you would know that most students live off campus, not on.
Top
That was a proverbial "burn," if you will...
And I will...
Top
Actually, off-campus and on-campus student populations are roughly similar in size for undergraduates. But yes, the majority live off-campus.
Top
Actually, off-campus and on-campus student populations are roughly similar in size for undergraduates. But yes, the majority live off-campus.
Top
“Orange Obligation and Maroon Mindset” is an encompassing philosophy that exemplifies the expected beliefs and behaviors of Virginia Tech community members and their guests.
"These expectations are detailed in Virginia Tech’s mission and purpose, Hokies Respect, Principle of Community, Hokie Handbook, A Community of Hokies, Core Values of Virginia Tech, Residence Life Shared Values, Invent the future and Ut Prosim statements."
-Have some respect people!
Reply to this Top
Orange Obligation and Maroon Mindset? What jackwagon came up with that crap? And how much did it cost?
Top
Let's be clear, this is the motto of the VT Student Conduct code. This comment replies to the above reference to it, which I find detestable. To question the desires and motivations of the University is an exercise in the educated mind. To imply that dissent is a detestable act is deplorable. Free minds are not to be shackled with the rhetoric of policy.
Top
I sure am glad this building will be LEED!! It is worth it for the extra $25million that it will cost. Silly Liberals.
Reply to this Top
Do you usually make up numbers and quote then as fact?
Reply to this Top
No. Fox news does. Then they just spew them around as fact.
Top
Don't you mean LEED Certified? Silly Conservative.
Reply to this Top
As current estimator for a commercial contractor, and VT CEE alum, LEED is not that expensive. Going for LEED Gold will add approximately 5%-7% of the overall cost, and those numbers will drop as LEED becomes more popular. Also, long term savings in energy will offset those premiums.
Reply to this Top
Also, LEED Certified doesn't cost anything extra for the most part, and Silver's costs are coming down to the 1% to 3% range.
Top
I wonder if a Qdoba on campus will finish off Moes and rival Chipotle.
Reply to this Top
It's nice to see that they kept the Corps in mind when they built this since they're shutting down Shultz. The 200-person seating area will work great when they try to fit the approx. 800-strong Corps in there for various events. Great job BOV for marginalizing one of the cornerstones of the university.
Reply to this Top
Dude, if you read more about the project, you'd see the dining hall has been specifically designed to accomodate the entire core in its' own dining area. Aren't college students supposed to consider the facts before they make a judgement?
Reply to this Top
"A 200-seat dining area dedicated to the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets is also planned for the first floor. Johnson said in 2009 that this area would help replace Shultz Hall, as the current corps dining facility will be turned over to the performing arts center renovation project slated to begin sometime this year."
In case you missed it, they're building seating for 200. While the exact number of cadets fluctuates, it is usually around 800. Those are the facts according to the article. If you have some other source about the project, please share.
Also, it is spelled "Corps" not core, FYI
Top
he's right kid. I'll confirm the number of around 800.
PS. If you can't spell "Corps" you probably shouldn't be arguing about the size of the "Corps" related to the new building.
Top
Just FYI...my understanding is that the entire Corps does not have sit-down meals together any longer. I believe that each battalion has one dinner together per week and all other meals for cadets are "on your own." So, seating for 200 will accomodate the Corps and will not require them to make any changes from their current practice.
Reply to this Top
One cadet battalion alone will push the limit of 200 seats. Additionally, there is one meal a week that all the freshmen eat together, which is almost always over 200. During New Cadet Week, all the cadre and freshmen eat together, again over 200. Furthermore, there were several times a semester when we would have regimental formations followed by regimental dinners, obviously well over 200 people.
Its bad enough that they are closing the one Dining facility within normal marching distance of Upper Quad, but they aren't even replacing it with an adequate substitute. Just another example of the university turning its back on the cornerstone of the university.
Top
They are actually using D2 as well for Battalion eats. Due to renovations of upper quad dormitories half of the corps will be housed on residential side until renovations are complete.
Top
They are actually using D2 as well for Battalion eats. Due to renovations of upper quad dormitories half of the corps will be housed on residential side until renovations are complete.
Top
If that is indeed the case, I'm glad the Corps is getting much needed RH renovations; part of Rasche Hall has been condemned as unlivable for quite some time. However, the Corps will eventually return to Upper Quad and still without an equivalent replacement to Shultz.
Top
Overcrowded , money-hungry, and average = Virginia Tech's MO.
Reply to this Top
Anyone else find it hiliariously ironic that "The office for Services for Students with Disabilities will also find a new home on the third floor of the building?????"
Reply to this Top
I like the article, however it should be better edited. There are better alternatives to use than "Faulkner said" and "Johnson said"
Reply to this Top