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Final Phase of Renovations CAMBRIDGE, MA—February 5, 2005—On June 13th, 2005, Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) will begin renovations in Dunster and Mather houses, two years ahead of schedule. They are expected to conclude in late August, according to Robert Leandro, assistant director of Residential Dining. "Although Dunster and Mather are the last of the twelve residential dining halls to be renovated, we are not looking at this as mission accomplished. Our mission is to serve the students and we are constantly ascertaining new ways in which to do so", said HUDS Executive Director Ted Mayer. "I am very pleased that, working with the Masters, House committees, students and other members of the College, we will have two more beautiful, modern dining facilities on campus, offering students top quality meals and service," added Harvard College Dean Benedict Gross, "I applaud University Dining Services for their hard work on these projects, and their efforts to listen to, and address the needs of the houses during dining hall reconstruction." The redesigned Dunster dining hall will feature islands that are approachable from all angles so that students may read the nutritional cards and create their favorite deli sandwich or salad bar masterpiece without holding up the person behind them. Overall, the revisions play off the existing architecture, invoking the sense of a kitchen in an old mansion. Mather is the architectural opposite of Dunster, with its modern mixtures of metal, glass and concrete. These elements remain in the Mather renovation and the new design will integrate the outside light sources to a greater degree. The redesign moves the beverages from the hot food line to their own separate area. Functionality at Mather will be further improved by an addition, the first in eight years of renovations. Project Manager Jack Demelo, of Harvard Real Estate Services (HRES), has helped HUDS plan an expansion of the area above the Dunster loading dock to allow for a designated Mather dish room. "A project of this magnitude requires collaboration and would not have been possible without the support provided by Harvard College and HRES," Mayer said. He added that Shawmut Design and Construction provided pre-construction services, and Ricca Newmark Design and Prellwitz/ Chilinski Associates, Inc. designed the kitchens. # # # Contact:Jami Snyder Phone: 617-496-4432 |
