The last time the Atrium was renovated was in 1985 and the student population was 24,023. After 25 years and 10,000 additional students, the Atrium is getting a facelift.

Due to renovations, this semester the Atrium is partially open to students, but there is no room for seating. There is a 50 by 80 foot tent in the Brickyard, known as the “Brickyard bubble,” which students can eat in temporarily.

“It is much better than the alternative of no food or having hotdog carts in the Brickyard,” Jennifer Gilmore, communications manager for University Dining, said.

Alan Hayes, a senior in creative writing, said he doesn’t think the bubble is not a big problem.

 ”It’s not bad, it will work while they’re fixing the Atrium. In the set up now, it gets everyone in and out,” Hayes said.

The tent is heated and air-conditioned and gives students an alternative to sitting outside

 ”It’s a lot easier to build from scratch then go into an old space,” Gilmore said. 

Ryan Jones, a junior in aerospace engineering, said he does not like the bubble in the Brickyard.

“What Atrium? It’s a lunch line. The bubble was a dumb idea. Look at it, it’s a circus tent blocking the Brickyard,” Jones said.

“When the requirements came back, we realized there was no way the project could be done and done right in three months,” Gilmore said. “The next option was to come up with a phased approach at getting the project done right, that’s how it ended up taking a year. We could have done it shorter but that would have meant no food service.”

The new design will relieve overcrowding and introduce new food concepts to the Atrium. The serving area is redesigned to improve flow and circulation, with twice the space as the before.

According to Gilmore the idea for the bubble came about after brainstorming a seating alternative so that students wouldn’t have to take food back to their rooms.  

“It’s not optimal but it was the best scenario given all the options,” Gilmore said.

Gilmore said she has not heard of any complaints with the bubble.

“Personally I haven’t had any complaints about the bubble other than wanting a clock or music in it. We’ve done with it what we can. It’s a small price to pay for the benefit coming that students will be able to enjoy new food service options as early as January,” Gilmore said. 

Due to the Atrium renovations, Freshens has moved to Talley Student Center, and is set to open on September 7, and includes a new closing time — 10p.m.

According to Gilmore, a lot of people were disappointed over the loss of Freshens so Dining found a way to open it in another location.

“They’re really not losing much seating,” Gilmore said. “Once the Talley renovation and addition is complete, students will have 3,000 square feet of food service in Talley.”

According to Gilmore, once the Atrium opens, it will make a big difference in seating and food service, but the impact won’t be fully recognized until Talley Student Center is complete. When the Talley addition opens in 2013,  getting food will be much easier.

Terence Sharpe, a sophomore in biochemistry, said he thinks the finished Atrium will be nice.

“The Atrium is going to be nice. Hopefully it will be better. I don’t eat here that much so the bubble isn’t a big deal,” Sharpe said.