Case Dining Hall is open to students after a seven month closure for renovations. It is the designated campus cafeteria for student athletes.

Steve Edwards, director of board operations for University Dining, said the dining hall is available to athletes as well as central campus residents.

“It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” he said. “We opened last week for dinner — athletes only. Central campus can eat here for breakfast and lunch all week long and all day on Sundays. [Case] is closed on Saturdays.”

University Dining and Athletics, who funded the $1.6 million project, did not achieve the projected completion date of July 31.

“Like so many other construction projects, it just ran long,” Edwards said.

Renovations to Case included five serving stations: a grill, pizza and bread, traditional food, desserts and display cooking.

Edwards said the food is now put out in a way that will shorten students’ waiting time.

“There was a wall that ran down the center. It was a straight line, sort of like a cattle shoot,” he said. “We’ve tried to create display cooking where [the food] is produced right in front of you.”

The exterior of the facility was changed as well.

“Patio dining is all new,” Edwards said. “It was not covered before and there was no seating. It should be available eight to nine months out of the year.”

Robert Bedsole, a junior in biomedical engineering and member of the track and field team, said he is pleased with the results of the renovations.

“I like it. It’s much improved,” he said. “The best thing about it is that there are so many more choices than last year.”

Brianna Grover, a freshman in psychology and criminology and member of the swim team, said she enjoys spending time with her teammates in Case.

“I think it’s a place where all the athletes can meet up and hang out,” she said. “We don’t always get to talk at practice, so it’s a good place to meet and talk afterward.”

Darrell Davis, a freshman in First Year College and member of the football team, said he eats in Case with his teammates on a daily basis.

“In the mornings, all the freshmen football players like to come here to eat,” he said. “At lunch, it’s better because I can come socialize with my team.”

Edwards said Case provides student athletes not only with a place to congregate, but also with nutritional food options.

“NCAA rules allow one training table meal per day for athletes. This is what is used for the training table location,” he said. “Because of their workout requirements and nutrition requirements, there are some special dietary needs athletes have. We try to meet them here.”

Sarah Merritt, a freshman in First Year College and member of the swim team, said she prefers Case to Clark and Fountain dining halls.

“They cater to you a lot more than the other dining halls,” she said.

Edwards said food served in Case is usually similar to what is served in Clark and Fountain dining halls with a few exceptions.

“The only meal with a really different menu is the training table at night,” he said. “Because athletic meal plans cost a little bit more than normal student meal plans, they get some higher cost protein items that are found in the other dining halls a little more frequently.”

Davis said he can see a difference in the food served in Case.

“There are healthy choices at all the dining halls but here, they put a little more emphasis on it,” he said.

Edwards said he sees Case now as a benefit for athletic recruits.

“It is a nice place to come – a place where people want to come and eat. It was not before. It was old and tired,” he said. “Coaches in recruiting now have a place to bring recruits that will compare to any facility and any other University.”