Construction will soon begin on Ball State's newest dining facility, Woodworth Commons. Greg Graham, interim director of facilities planning, said the building has been stripped of kitchen equipment and fixtures and the space is ready to renovate.

"The project will be put out for a bid in June, have a contractor onsite by July and be finished by fall 2007," Graham said.

Graham said the renovation will involve a complete makeover of the space, including an expansion of the dining area, which will seat approximately 500. Future development includes the addition of outdoor patio seating.   

"Before there were rows of large tables and booth seating," Graham said. "The new design will be less formal and more intimate. The addition of smaller tables will create a more open feel."

The dining facility will feature a two-story atrium space, some soft seating areas with televisions, and will remain open 24 hours a day, providing students with another space in which to socialize and study.

Jon Lewis, director of campus dining services, said the layout and design of the space in the new facility are state of the art, as are the food offerings. Dining choices will include:

• Fire Dragon will be the center of the marketplace. At this station, patrons will choose their own fresh vegetables, meats, fruit, tofu, portobello mushrooms and sauce, then watch as they are cooked on a Mongolian grill and served with a choice of white rice, fried rice or noodles. Fire Dragon will also feature Asian-themed prepared selections including sushi, teriyaki chicken salad, fresh fruit and hot Asian soup.
• della casa, an Italian station, will serve quick meals featuring Freshcetta pizza, prepared salads and mixed fruit. Dellacasa's Tuscan Table will serve a variety of sandwiches, oven-roasted Tuscan vegetables and rolls, specialty pizzas and vegetarian dishes, as well as special pastas and sauces tossed in a skillet and then broiled in a gas-fired woodstove oven.
• Deli World will feature a spinning salad station and world-themed or create-your-own grinders, wraps, paninis and deli sandwiches. Freshcetta pizza, breadsticks and homemade salad dressings will also be available.
• Woody's Grille, which was a huge hit in the original Woodworth Dining, will serve charbroiled hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, specialty sandwiches, grilled cheese, grilled chicken, grilled fish, chicken nuggets, curly fries and onion rings.
• Comfort Zone, another original Woodworth Dining favorite, will return with comfort food favorites on a five-week rotating menu cycle. The menu will include a variety of soups and vegetarian meals, as well as such favorites as beef Manhattan, chicken and noodles, fried chicken, homemade macaroni and cheese and hot desserts.
• Patisserie will feature an Italian espresso bar as well as pies, cookies, cupcakes and other baked goods. Create-your-own omelets and special pastries will be available during breakfast hours.
• Riverside Emporium will have a convenience store feel. The Emporium will offer beverages, freezer items and a selection of healthy snacks.

Lewis said he hopes the variety of dining options in Woodworth Commons will attract patrons from across campus and even off campus to the new facility.

"We're excited about the reopening of the Woodworth Commons," Lewis said. "We feel strongly that this new facility will add to the vibrancy of the campus."  

Woodworth Commons will open in fall 2007.

 

(Note to editors: For more information, contact Graham at (765) 285-2828 or ggraham@bsu.edu, or Lewis at (765) 285-1967 or jjlewis@bsu.edu.)