Holt Commons

Building Description

Holt Commons primarily contains the Frank's Place which is the main University Housing Food Service unit in the Lakeshore Area. Frank's Place has a cafeteria style dining atmosphere and offers its customers a multitude of options to satisfy their hunger. Customers can select from a wide variety of prepared entrees, an even wider selection of a la carte items, or from the sandwich, cereal and salad bars that are featured. Frank's offers something to please almost every appetite. Also located within Holt Commons is the Common Grounds, a small coffee shop which serves a variety of specialty coffee drinks and ice cream desserts.

History

Holt Commons is located in the lakeshore area of university housing and has served primarily as a traditional food service facility since its construction in 1957, serving approximately 3,200 meals daily. Since that time, seating areas have been refurbished several times; however, the serving and food preparation areas received little or no remodeling. The 2004 study identified facility and programming needs for all food service venues.

The study demonstrated that in order to meet the ever-changing food service needs and expectations of students, either major renovations or expansions of existing food preparation and service areas are needed. A major renovation is under way and is to take full momentum in 2011. A new food service facility designed to meet the needs of the projected 3,250 students living in the lakeshore area will replace the outdated facility now located in Holt Commons. The new facility uses a "marketplace" concept with seating for approximately 400 and capacity to serve approximately 1,350 meals during peak periods. Following construction of the new food service facility, Holt Commons will be demolished under the second phase.