Ohio University wants more people celebrating and gathering on South Green.
So it spent nearly two years revamping its Nelson Dining Hall, including: “Nelson Commons” — a place where students can meet, walls retract, LED lights flash and a dance floor rolls out.
Since Aug. 15, reservations for the banquet hall have poured in from student organizations, faculty members and outside constituents. The first events will be held later in September.
The Post was given a tour of the renovated space, which includes a main reception area that seats 275 people, and two additional private dining spaces that sit 30 each.
The private spaces have retractable walls to expand the area.
“Overall, we view the Nelson Commons reception and private dining spaces as additional opportunities for all campus constituents and guests — be it faculty, staff or student — to engage with the environment and with each other,” said Brian Thompson, director of auxiliaries.
This reception area, “phase two” of the Nelson construction project, costs about $6.4 million from Culinary Services’ annual operating budget reserves, according to a previous Post article. The university didn’t take on any additional debt.
“I would like to go see it,” said OU’s Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones. “Space in general is a premium on this campus, and the fact that it is newly renovated space that is flexible and will allow students to meet there, I would imagine that I would probably be spending time over there sometime or somehow.”
Culinary Services plans to save money by using existing kitchen equipment and Nelson Dining Hall’s food preparation areas.
Students will also have more opportunities to work for OU’s largest student employer. Culinary Services currently employs more than 1,500 students, but with the Nelson expansion, more shifts will become available, Thompson said.
Student organizations can rent the private dining rooms for $37.50 per use. All others can rent for $75 per use. The main reception area can be rented for $600 per day, not including set up and custodial fees for groups not associated with the university.
The fees also don’t encompass “extras,” including the retractable wall. Registered student organizations, faculty and staff can rent the space for $200 per day.
Compared to Baker University Center, Nelson appears to be cheaper. The grand ballroom can be rented for $300 per day by those associated with OU; external organizations can rent the ballroom for $1,200.
“I think overall, it’s more about having those spaces that students feel comfortable in,” Hall-Jones said. “That they are truly eating, living, learning all in the same space … is going to be a bonus for students.”
But not all students share the same enthusiasm as the university’s administrators.
“I’d rather live in a renovated dorm than have new dining halls that are already pretty nice,” said Jessica Walters, a sophomore studying playwriting.
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