Brown Dining Hall Renovation at Western Carolina University Earns LEED Gold

Brown Dining Hall at Western Carolina University has always been a hub of activity where students spend time bonding over meals, academic discussions, and social interactions. The iconic brown dining hall has recently undergone a massive renovation, bringing forth an array of sustainable features that have earned it the prestigious LEED Gold certification.

The new design boasts an outdoor dining area that provides stunning views of the campus and surrounding mountains. The Brown Dining Hall renovation was a project that took years to complete, and it tells a fascinating tale of the university's commitment to sustainability. According to Gary Matson, Director of Campus Services at WCU, "We wanted to create an environment that would be conducive to fostering a sense of community while being mindful of our impact on the environment."

In this article, we'll delve into the details of the Brown Dining Hall renovation project, learning about the various sustainable features incorporated into its design and how they contribute to reducing the building's environmental footprint. We'll also explore why earning a LEED Gold certification is such an important achievement for Western Carolina University and what it means for future construction projects on campus.

Brown Dining Hall, a historic building at Western Carolina University (WCU), has a sentimental attachment to many WCU alumni. The underutilized, deferred maintenance-serving equipment rental space was in need of renovation. That's when WCU kicked off its renovation project to give students more dining options and enhance their lives on campus.

The renovation project involved a complete demolition of the old building and a 25,000-square-foot expansion. McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture stakeholders made sure that the final design achieved WCU's vision for renovating Brown Hall to foster campus community. Watson Tate Savory Architects ensured that sustainable design elements were incorporated into the revamped building to reduce annual building energy consumption.

Now, Brown Dining Hall is a strategic pivot point between the historic upper campus and recently developed lower campus with great potential to make Brown Hall an essential part of campus life for current and future students. The revamped building provides additional dining options including brands that cater to the growing student body. With higher education campuses constantly evolving, it's exciting to see how Brown Dining Hall will continue to evolve and remain relevant in enhancing students' lives on campus.

If you're a Brown student looking for delicious eats after hours, look no further than Jo's Eatery. Located on Gregorian Quad at 114 Power St, this spot is open from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am and offers a wide array of snacks, sandwiches, and soups. Start your meal off with a bread bowl filled with creamy cheddar soup or good broccoli.

For those looking to eat healthily, Jo's has you covered with their salad station. However, if you're in the mood for something more indulgent, try their delicious grilled cheeses or infamous spicy chicken sandwich topped with onion rings. And for those late-night cravings, don't miss out on their snack section featuring chicken sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas and more.

Owned by Josiah himself, Jo's Eatery is a must-visit spot for all Brown students craving some tasty eats. Whether you're in the mood for something healthy or hearty, they have it all. So next time you find yourself on Gregorian Quad late at night, head over to Jo's - your taste buds will thank you!

Brown University is known for its prestigious academics and Ivy League status, but what about its dining hall services? With current difficulties affecting the food sector nationally, it's worth exploring how these issues influence Brown's dining services. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the food industry nationwide in ways including increased labor shortages brought on by workers' modifications and consumer expectations closures of food-production facilities, constrained food trade policies, and erratic intervals of food distribution that necessitate last-minute substitutions, thereby requiring menu modifications. This is an inevitable result that affects every meal served at Brown.

Despite these worries due to the pandemic, Brown's dining halls are still generally regarded as serving good quality food. Verne-Wooley and Sharpe Refectory, the all-you-can-eat Brown dining halls, offer fresh in-house butcher meat and locally-grown fruit options. Ivy Room offers academic-themed meals while Andrews Commons is a vegetarian restaurant. Blue Room is a late-night campus market with a real-milk milkshake machine while Jo's serves gluten-free delights. Even during the pandemic, students are fed well with plenty of variety.

Rhode Island Brown even offers trayless dining with reusable to-go containers in alignment with Green Restaurant Association-certified establishment standards. They also aim to reduce disposable water bottle usage by encouraging students to bring their own refillable bottles instead. Despite facing significant challenges like every other university across the nation, it seems that Brown University has found some creative solutions to provide excellent dining options for its students. To learn more about what they have to offer, check out their online menu site!

Brown Dining Hall offers a wide range of meal plans that cater to every student's needs. These meal plans offer different options for meal credits, flex points, visitor tickets, and guest passes passes. The most popular option is the unlimited meal plan that allows students to eat at any of the campus restaurants and all-you-care-to-eat establishments on campus.

The total amount of the Brown Meal Plan varies depending on the type of plan you choose. For instance, if you opt for a 19-meal credit swipe Verney-Woolley or Emery-Woolley Dorm plan with $250 flex points, you'll pay around $2,875 per semester. This plan gives you access to Sharpe Refectory in Wriston Quad where you can enjoy day-long avocado toast or eggs cooked to order.

Flex points are built-in currency included in a meal plan, which allows on-the-go purchase or dining outside the dining hall. It acts as a dollar-for-dollar point system that can be used at any A la carte restaurants on-campus. If you want to have a unique brown dining experience, just swipe your card and enjoy your meal without worrying about carrying cash!

If you're a Brown student or faculty member, you probably know all about the controversy surrounding dining halls on campus. But if you're an Andrews lover, or just someone who appreciates good food in a cozy atmosphere, you'll want to check out Andrews Common. Located on the Pembroke campus, this dining hall is open for lunch from 11:00am to 3:30pm and for dinner from 5:00pm to 11:59pm.

One of the best things about Andrews Common is its location. If you're tired of the main campus and need a change of scenery, or if you want to take advantage of the beautiful Providence winds, it's just a quick added 15-minute walk down Brown Street. Once there, you'll appreciate the variety of seating options available--from high tables to cozy booths--and the friendly staff who are always happy to help.

Of course, the real draw at Andrews Common is the food. Whether you're coming from a three-hour lecture absolutely starving, or just looking for something delicious to cap off your day, this dining hall has got you covered. Try their above-par pizza or baked pasta dishes any night of the week, or come on Curry Nights for some flavorful Indian cuisine that will have your taste buds singing. For those who love good food in a charming setting, make sure to visit Andrews Common!