Elizabethtown College’s Marketplace dining hall will be receiving significant renovations in the coming months. The project, announced in April, will fully begin June 9th and is on track to be completed by the end of July.
The announcement made a splash, exciting the student community and dividing opinion on the aesthetic and practical changes these renovations will bring to the dining hall experience. Some were quick to observe that the room was in need of an update.
“I really love the direction of the new design, it is definitely an upgrade from the aged 80’s look,” first-year biology major Arabella Reinert said. Her friend and fellow first-year occupational therapy major Alyssa Langley cautiously agreed.
“While I think the renovations are a big improvement aesthetically, I still have questions about seating and practicality,” Langley said.
The motivation for the renovations was to provide a dining space that would support both large groups and small groups seeking a better atmosphere to socialize in. While many students alongside Langley may question the practicality, the room will seat the same number of students, approximately 400. Dining services partnered with student groups to evaluate the current usage of the seating arrangement and explored what a new configuration could look like based on student insight, said Joe Hudzick, Assistant Vice President for Operations and Auxiliary Services.
“Regularly serving the student body, faculty, staff, and guests over the course of 23 years has definitely caused the space to show its age,” Hudzick said. “The goal was to keep a similar feel to what the Marketplace currently offers, while updating the space to make it feel more modern.”
The renovations will work in two phases across the summer through Benchmark Construction, effectively transforming the room from a traditional, long table dining hall into a social hub with a variety of seating options. The room will be outfitted with new paint, modern chairs and furniture, wood-patterned hard flooring, and updated Etown College branding. As some parts of the project are still being finalized, there has not yet been a confirmed cost of the renovations.
New features from released photos offer a peek into the future: circular dining tables, high seats for two, and long bar-style seating that can fit a large group to a table. The new design also features refurbished booths and smooth, recessed lighting.
“Our hope is that this new arrangement will add opportunities for dining experiences that meet a greater variety of group needs,” Hudzick said. “From students to staff, and faculty to families even, the Marketplace is used by a variety of audiences for purposes often beyond just eating a meal.”
The kitchen and food serving areas will not be renovated and will continue functional operation throughout the summer, utilizing the Jay’s Nest for temporary and overflow seating.
For students, faculty, and staff with questions of practical use through the summer months: to-go boxes will still be available, and directional signage will be provided to direct guests to appropriate seating for summer meetings and programs. These accommodations will be updated as needed through Dining Services.
