University Dining has continued reviewing new ideas for renovations to the Atrium and Talley Student Center.

Earlier this year, the University asked a contractor to look at The Atrium and give feedback on what could be done to renovate it, according to Randy Lait, business officer for University Dining.

“We had an opportunity this summer to partner with facilities and remodel the patio outside The Atrium,” Lait said. “We asked the guys who did the patio to come inside the Atrium, look around and see what they could do.”

Lait said the contractors pitched two ideas for The Atrium, one is short-term and less expensive, the other would take longer and cost more money.

“We had them lay out what they would do, what it would entail and how long it would be,” Lait said. “I really think the plan for the Atrium will work.”

Jessica Howell, a sophomore in animal sciences, said she had concerns over the lack of seating in the Atrium.

“They definitely need to add more seats,” Howell said. “When I come out with my friends, it’s always so hard for us to find seats where we can sit together. People have to stand around because they can’t find anyplace to sit, especially around lunch time.”

Howell also said she would like to see more cash registers added to speed up the lines.

“I also wish they would add more cash registers to make the lines go faster,” Howell said. “Sometimes I have to wait ten minutes just to get through the line and I don’t even have a lot.”

Lait said one of the plans for the renovation included removing Lil Dino’s from the center of The Atrium, which would create an additional 100 seats.

“In addition to taking down Lil Dino’s, we would move the bookstore to the front of the Atrium, which would be better for their business since they could stay open a little later,” he said. “We would have a total of four concepts, one going where the bookstore currently is.”

Oleg Solovyev, a graduate student in analytics said he thinks the bookstore is already in an optimal location.

“Any student who eats in the Atrium knows it’s there,” he said. “I don’t think they’ll have any extra revenue just by moving it to the front.”

Lait said they have not received any opposition in their plans for The Atrium’s renovation.

“I think everyone agrees that the Atrium is was over-crowded and is in major need of renovation,” he said. “As far as University Dining goes, we’re all for it.”

In addition to their plans for The Atrium, University Dining is also in the process of planning redesigns for Talley Student Center, as well as planning food services on Centiennial Campus.

“We had the same guys who gave us a plan for The Atrium take a look at Talley and come up with something for that,” Lait said.

Though University Dining has been given some designs for Talley, Lait said they are still trying to work out some details.

“The plans for Talley need a little more work,” he said. “They didn’t fully address everything we wanted to address in Talley, but it was definitely a step in the right direction.”

Lait added that the renovations are still in the planning process and no date has been set for the renovations to begin.