College dining hall undergoes $6M renovation

When Wheaton College students return to campus at the end of the month, they'll be treated to a brand new dining experience.

Chase Dining Hall has been undergoing a $6 million gut renovation since March and is slated to reopen with a new look and new services at the end of the month, said Brian Douglas, vice president for finance and administration.

In the 50 years the dining hall has been open, only minor updates have been made and it was time to breathe some new life into the building, Douglas said.

"It was a tired facility," he said.

Besides renovating the space, the changes will include a shift in what's offered at the dining facility. Freshly cooked, made-to-order food options prepared in front of students will be on tap, something that's in line with what students are looking for, Douglas said.

Students are seeking options and want to be able to customize their food choices, Douglas said. The new facility will be able to support having menu items like burrito night one day or a pasta bar the next night, where students - as well as faculty and staff - can customize what vegetables or sauces they want on their food to cater it to their liking.

In addition, there will be an allergen station dedicated to the seven major allergens, such as nuts, dairy and wheat, Douglas said. While the cooking staff has always been aware of student allergies and catered to them, the new station will make it so students with those allergies can be confident that the food they're consuming is free of any allergens.