Due to the money received from the Class of 1953, the entire renovation process was "revenue neutral," Simpson said.
The new eatery combines the former Food Court and Homeplate into one large dining hall with modernized decor and 1,093 seats. The facilities feature numerous new dining options, including a panini and salad bar called "Big Greens," as well as an international food station with guest chefs called "Worldview."
The College expects the new dining facility to serve 5,000 visitors per day and to be 25 percent more energy efficient than the old dining hall, Simpson said. The building uses heat from cooking to pre-heat water from the reservoir that serves the campus, as well as "aggressive" composting measures and bulk food producing techniques that will cut the amount of trash produced in half, Simpson said.
Renovations to the basement of '53 Commons are ongoing. Once completed, the space will be open 24 hours a day for student use, according to Simpson. This construction was made possible by a donation from George Sarner '53 and will likely be finished in January, Simpson said.
The new facility is intended to serve "many purposes" in addition to dining, and will provide student organizations with additional space in which to meet, Simpson said. The Dartmouth football team has already reserved space in the new facility on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings for pre-game meals, he said.
"The whole concept was for ['53 Commons] to blend in with Collis and Robinson Hall to provide a student hub on campus," Simpson said. "Between the three buildings, you've got a center of activity."
Director of Dartmouth Dining Services David Newlove said in a previous interview with The Dartmouth that he hopes the space will host student events, including events involving alcohol in accordance with the College's Social Event Management Procedures rules.
Some students, however, have expressed concern that '53 Commons' ability to function as a social space will be hindered by the fact that only students who have purchased a meal will be allowed to enter dining areas.
Torrey Barrett '13, the creator of a Facebook group "1000 Students Against the New Dartmouth DDS Meal Plan," said she is "skeptical" that '53 Commons will be effective as a social space because it is College sponsored.
Barrett said that Newlove has contacted sororities that lack physical plants suggesting that they use the new space for meetings, but that she believes sororities are unlikely to hold meetings in the '53 Commons because it is not very "atmospheric."
The College also altered the hours during which its dining facilities are open. Although Food Court previously served food until 1 a.m., '53 Commons will now close at 8 p.m. The Courtyard Cafe in the Hopkins Center will now stay open until 12:30 a.m. to provide late-night dining.
Following mixed student reaction and significant changes implemented to meal plans during Summer term, SmartChoice the new meal plans required for all students enrolled in classes will go into effect at the beginning of Fall term.
The plans combine a defined number of meals per week that can be redeemed for all-you-can-eat meals at '53 Commons or late-night dining at Collis, and a declining balance account, which can be used to purchase individual food items.
The option to exchange meals for a pre-defined dollar amount a modification to the original plan announced over the summer will allow students to purchase food items a la carte at any location on campus.
The finalized meal plan options include 20, 14 or five meals-per-week options. While the 20 meals-per-week option includes $75 of DBA, the 14 meals per week option includes $125 of DBA and the five meals per week option offers $875 of DBA, according to the DDS website.
A significant change to the original plan allows students living off campus to purchase a DBA-only plan that includes only $875 of DBA. All students on campus, however, are required to purchase plans that include all-you-can-eat meals.
Some students interviewed by The Dartmouth said they were unhappy with the changes to student meal plans. Various students said the new options limit students' freedom to purchase food whenever and wherever they want while others alleged that the move to all-you-can-eat dining favors student athletes and is a less desirable option for students who choose not to eat as much.
The opposition to the changes plans manifested in protests outside of a Faculty of the Arts and Sciences Meeting at the Hopkins Center during Spring term.
Eli Lichtenstein '13, who participated in the protests in the spring, said that the move to SmartChoice reflects a broader trend of the College administration's "top-down" approach and "anti-democratic" decision-making process. Lichtenstein said the administration's response to student concerns has so far been lacking.
"They've given us a token response, but it's really not substantial or meaningful," he said.
While the College has solicited student reactions and concerns regarding the new dining facilities, officials have failed to implement "effective changes" to the meal plans, Barrett said.
Krishna is a member of The Dartmouth Staff.
