Dining hall expansion to start
Seton Hill University is getting ready to expand its nearly century-old Lowe Dining Hall.
“The dining hall was built in 1919, and at that point it was built to serve a pretty small amount of students,” university President Mary Finger said.
As Seton Hill has grown, the dining hall has not been able to keep up. The cramped space led to long lines.
“It's a very pretty place, but at this point it's not functioning at where it needs to be,” Finger said.
The school conducted a survey to gauge students' most-wanted campus improvements.
“We asked students what was the top thing that they needed, and I was frankly a little surprised that the top thing they wanted was a cafeteria that gives them more options and gives them that response to their lifestyle,” Finger said.
Construction on the two-story, 7,000-square-foot extension is slated to start late this month. The project will cost an estimated $9.3 million, which will be paid through fundraising and money from the university's capital fund, Finger said.
The most disruptive stretch of work will be complete before students return from winter break, so the dining hall will remain operational as construction continues, she said. Work is scheduled to be completed in August.
Dining staff offices will be on the second floor. The first floor of the extension will become a serving area with a kitchen and food stations, Finger said.
With the kitchen and serving area moved to the new space, the seating capacity in the original hall will expand from 319 to 430. The extension will feature a new entryway and vestibule.
The dining hall is named after Mother Superior Aloysia Lowe, who in 1882 purchased the property where the university stands and named it Seton Hill after Elizabeth Ann Seton, the founder of the Sisters of Charity.
The hall's large, elaborate windows are part of the university's long history and will be preserved, Finger said.
“We're going to make sure it remains as beautiful as it has been,” she said.
Jacob Tierney is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6646 or jtierney@tribweb.com.
