Sodexo, Luther look to revamp caf

Recently, Sodexo posted plans outside Marty’s Cybercafé to remodel Luther’s cafeteria.

The remodelling is an attempt to give the cafeteria a new look to suit the current generation of Luther students and will incorporate some elements of the Oneota Market, according to Vice President and Dean for Student Life Ann Highum.

“These plans will make Dining Services look less like a 1960s cafeteria and more like a modern restaurant,” Highum said.

Food Council member and Student Senate Wellness Representative Mitch Demers looks forward to the remodeling.

“I’ve heard some students say that the Caf looks like a barracks,” Demers said. “It needs to be done. The furniture in the Caf is 30 years old.”

Demers also noted that the cafeteria does not meet the standards set by the American Food and Drug Administration.

For three years, a cafeteria remodel has been on the administration’s project list. At the end of each year, the administration looks at a list of specific facilities that need updating. This year, Luther decided to renovate the cafeteria.

According to Demers, the remodeling is a joint venture between the college and Sodexo.

“The remodel’s funding comes from a partnership between Luther and Sodexo,” Demers said. “It’s a tie between them.”

Sodexo’s investment allowed this project to move forward a year earlier than expected, according to Student Body President Zoelzer.

“The partnership with Sodexo makes this project cheaper,” Zoelzer said. “Without Sodexo’s financial contribution, it would be much harder or impossible to do a renovation.”

The plans were designed by KK, an architectural firm from Minneapolis. They represent the first of three stages of the entire remodel. This summer, the administration will purchase new furniture, lighting, carpeting and paint. The other two projected phases work on the dining layout.

Both the administration and Student Senate wanted to customize the remodel to meet Luther’s needs. Student Senate sent out an online survey for students to openly voice their opinions, yet the proposed designs were put on display before the survey was even completed. Zoelzer says that the survey was completed late.

“If they postponed these designs, it would delay the remodel for another year,” Zoelzer said.

Despite the situation, Demers is confident that the survey’s results will be taken into account.

“The administration will take a look at the results before they finalize the plans,” Demers said.

The new plans include 100 less seats than its current arrangement. Demers does not find this to be an issue.

“Even during the busiest times, there are still empty tables,” Demers said.

After evaluating the cafeteria, Diane Tacke, vice president for finance and administration, found empty space.

“It doesn’t appear that reducing the seating to 600 will be problematic,” Tacke said. “In reviewing the data during high traffic times there would be a minimum of 80 to 100 seats available.”

Demers agrees.

“The seating area is too cluttered,” Demers said. “700 seats is too many for the space we have to occupy.”

Highum remains optimistic about the remodel.

“It will give a casual and classy feel to the Caf,” Highum said. “If the students say wholeheartedly that they didn’t want new tables and chairs, we’d have to take that into consideration. But I would wonder if they had ever seen the Caf’s tables and chairs.”

The plans were designed by KK, an architectural firm from Minneapolis. They represent the first of three stages of the entire remodel. This summer, the administration will purchase new furniture, lighting, carpeting and paint. The other two projected phases involve the dining layout.

Both the administration and Student Senate wanted to customize the remodel to meet Luther’s needs. Student Senate sent out an online survey for students to openly voice their opinions, but the proposed designs were put on display before the survey was completed. Zoelzer says the survey was completed late.

“If they postponed these designs, it would delay the remodel for another year,” Zoelzer said.

Despite the situation, Demers is confident the survey’s results will be taken into account.

“The administration will take a look at the results before they finalize the plans,” Demers said.

The new plans include 100 fewer seats than its current arrangement. Demers does not consider this to be an issue.

“Even during the busiest times, there are still empty tables,” Demers said.

After evaluating the cafeteria, Diane Tacke, vice president for finance and administration, found empty space.

“It doesn’t appear that reducing the seating to 600 will be problematic,” Tacke said. “In reviewing the data, during high traffic times there would be a minimum of 80 to 100 seats available.”

Demers agrees.

“The seating area is too cluttered,” Demers said. “700 seats is too many for the space we have to occupy.”

Highum remains optimistic about the remodel.

“It will give a casual and classy feel to the caf,” Highum said. “If the students say wholeheartedly that they didn’t want new tables and chairs, we’d have to take that into consideration. But I would wonder if they had ever seen the caf’s tables and chairs.”