UND reopens dining center after extensive remodel

Staff Report

The University of North Dakota’s Wilkerson Hall dining center has been remodeled, modernized and is ready to serve meals under its new name, Wilkerson Commons.

The 46-year-old structure underwent a complete redesign and now serves as a gathering area, as well as a dining hall. JLG Architects of Grand Forks, N.D., and Solomon Cordwell Buenz of Chicago collaborated on the 21,000-square-foot addition and 40,000-squarefoot renovation that also includes meeting and study spaces, a fireplace, an innovation lab, a convenience store, a coffee bar and an entertainment stage.

Dining updates feature floor-to-ceiling windows to allow for natural lighting. Eight new display cooking stations prepare a variety of foods, including allergen-free options and Dakota Homestyle cuisine, and a chef’s demonstration platform illustrates healthy cooking techniques. Food preparation in the $4 million kitchen is designed to be more efficient through streamlined processes such as centralized cook and chill operations, as well as 11 walkways in coolers that will monitor the temperature of foods, according to JLG. “There wasn’t a model for this type of kitchen anywhere else,” says Orlynn Rosaasen, director of dining services, in a statement. “We are setting the trend.”

The facility also will host Campus Housing offices and support space for student life. “In the past, Wilkerson Hall has always been the building you go through on your way to someplace else,” says Lori Reesor, vice president of student affairs, in a statement. “But the new Wilkerson will serve as a magnet, drawing students, faculty and staff together.”

Jim Galloway, principal at JLG, says in a statement,“The transformation of Wilkerson has made it unrecognizable to previous generations of students who dined here. In addition to providing the greatest selection and variety of food options and a dining atmosphere not yet found on campus, the study and social life amenities will set a new standard in higher education in our region.” PB