Greetings From The Vice President for Student Affairs
Dear Otterbein Students,
Things are moving forward and are already changing every day with Phase Two of the Campus Center Renovations! We are all very excited about the big changes coming to enhance your dining experience. We are committed to making your dining experience more inviting, more modern, and certainly we are working to create a more meaningful space for you and the rest of our community to dine, connect, relax, study, and make memories.
Your opinions shared through Student Government and survey responses have not only shaped our priorities; they helped the committee make decisions about the aesthetics and the amenities of the space. Check out some photos below of new Cardinals visiting during Orientation who were trying out different furniture to vote on their favorites. As a reminder, we are working toward the new dining experience being completely online and ready for your use as soon as possible (completion anticipated January of 2025).
As always, I’m here to build and support your experience as a Cardinal. Just let me or any of the listed students, faculty, or staff members of the CC-Reno Planning Team know what questions we can answer as we work through this exciting process and investment in our student dining experience. Be sure to check out some of the highlights on the project timeline and some architectural renderings to help you imagine your new Cardinal’s Nest and 1847 dining rooms, too.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we begin the construction and renovation phases. During the “Nest” dining hall renovation we are shifting meals downstairs to an updated and expanded “Den” on the first level of the Campus Center. Plus we are offering more options for dining out of the library (The Bean) and at The Point. Look on this site and in our campus news for routine updates. Our intent is to share construction project progress updates and details about how we’re all working together to keep your dining experience healthy, delicious, and fun during the fall semester. Here’s to building a new and better Nest for all of our Cardinals!
Sincerely,
Bill Fox, Ed.D.
Vice President, Student Affairs
fox20@otterbein.edu
Greetings From The Vice President for Student Affair
Dear Otterbein Students,
Things are moving forward and are already changing every day with Phase Two of the Campus Center Renovations! We are all very excited about the big changes coming to enhance your dining experience. We are committed to making your dining experience more inviting, more modern, and certainly we are working to create a more meaningful space for you and the rest of our community to dine, connect, relax, study, and make memories.
Your opinions shared through Student Government and survey responses have not only shaped our priorities; they helped the committee make decisions about the aesthetics and the amenities of the space. Check out some photos below of new Cardinals visiting during Orientation who were trying out different furniture to vote on their favorites. As a reminder, we are working toward the new dining experience being completely online and ready for your use as soon as possible (completion anticipated January of 2025).
As always, I’m here to build and support your experience as a Cardinal. Just let me or any of the listed students, faculty, or staff members of the CC-Reno Planning Team know what questions we can answer as we work through this exciting process and investment in our student dining experience. Be sure to check out some of the highlights on the project timeline and some architectural renderings to help you imagine your new Cardinal’s Nest and 1847 dining rooms, too.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we begin the construction and renovation phases. During the “Nest” dining hall renovation we are shifting meals downstairs to an updated and expanded “Den” on the first level of the Campus Center. Plus we are offering more options for dining out of the library (The Bean) and at The Point. Look on this site and in our campus news for routine updates. Our intent is to share construction project progress updates and details about how we’re all working together to keep your dining experience healthy, delicious, and fun during the fall semester. Here’s to building a new and better Nest for all of our Cardinals!
Sincerely,
Bill Fox, Ed.D.
Vice President, Student Affairs
fox20@otterbein.edu
Follow Campus Center Construction Progress!
Fall 2024 Otterbein University Campus Dining Hours
* The Nest will be closed during Fall Semester, 2024, for renovations.
The OtterDen
During renovations, the Den will serve as the central kitchen for Fall 2024. The Den schedule includes hours for: continental breakfast, full breakfast, brunch, full lunch/dinner, and traditional Den menu fare. The Den convenience store features students’ most purchased items.
The Otter Bean
The Point Cafe
Whether it is a salad, sandwich, coffee, or a full meal you are looking for, The Point has dining options covered. This is a great spot for those who spend a lot of time at The Point or in the Art and Communications building.
Project Schedule Key Dates
Below are the tentative dates for the upcoming construction work for Phase 2 of the Campus Center renovation project.
| Date | Milestone |
| Ongoing | New Stair Tower construction. |
| July 2 | Abatement for New Dish Room and OtterDen construction. |
| July 5 | Demolition starts for New Dish Room and OtterDen construction. |
| TBD | Demolition of Central Interior Stair Tower. |
| July 31 | Completion of OtterDen construction. |
| Beginning of August | Move dining/serving to first floor. |
| Aug. 5-Sept. 13 | Demolition of North Interior Stairs. |
| Sept. 9 | Demolition starts for Kitchen, Dining, and Serving area. |
| Sept. 16 | Completion of New Dish Room construction. |
| Oct. 30 | Completion of New Stair Tower construction. |
| January 2025 | Substantial completion of Phase 2. |
New Cardinals Test New Furniture
Dishing up a NEW DINING EXPERIENCE
Explore some of the biggest changes on tap for the new dining experience in the Campus Center. Plans include creating a new open-concept dining experience with multiple stations featuring a variety of food options along with a complete overhaul to the dining hall and the private 1847 dining room.
A clear listing of ingredients will take out a lot of the guesswork for students who have dietary preferences. We are all looking forward to the updated facilities, too. It’s all going to feel comfortable and more home-like.
–Blaine Bishop ’25, Senator for Student Government and member of its Dining Advisory Board
The Dining Room Experience
- Phase Two focuses on 9,500 square feet of the Campus Center to create an open, welcoming university destination to bring Cardinals together.
- Fostering connection and community, the space will be flexible in its configurations to ensure a sense of comfort, whether hosting a small group or a full-capacity event.
The Flow
- As important for efficiencies and reduced lines, the use of food stations also allows students the chance to see the variety of what’s offered.
- Grab and go features will respond to student preferences and schedules.
Flexible Space
- A variety of fixtures and furniture will create space that is aesthetically pleasing and warm while also meeting students’ use of space whether loud and happy meals with friends around a big table or a smaller table for quiet studying together.
Nutrition and Clean Dining Options
- Just as modernized space enhances efficiencies, it will reinvigorate the approach to student well-being.
- Awareness to food sensitivities translates to amplified attention to food preparation, selection, and quality to mind dietary and allergen considerations as well as cultural sensitivities.
The 1847 Dining Room
- A re-imagined 1847 Dining Room will offer unique space to accommodate from 12 to 40 people. This Otterbein-branded room will provide enhanced event synergy as this space adjoins the new Taylor Lounge.
New Stairwell Entrance
- Featuring Cardinal branding and illumination, this showcase external stairwell will serve as a new entry and as a focal point for school pride and excellence.
Every design question, every hope or idea for the new spaces, and every bit of investment is intended to improve the experience of our current and future students.
–Bill Fox, Vice President for Student Affairs
Meet the Campus Center Phase Two Reno Committee
These Otterbein students and colleagues gather every Friday for project meetings. They are your direct link to the project. If you have questions or ideas, be sure to let them know. This group is creative, engaged, and committed to the student experience — but remember, they all want to know what you want!
- Bill Fox, Chair
Vice President, Student Affairs
- Gina Calcamuggio
Senior Director, Brand and Content Management, Office of Marketing
- Hannah Wagner
Coordinator of Visits and Events, Office of Admission
- Erin Bender
Executive Director, The Point, Institutional Advancement
- Melissa Gilbert
Dean of Student Engagement, Student Affairs
- Dana Viglietta
Executive Director of Engagement, Institutional Advancement
- Tracy Benner
Director of Residence Life, Student Affairs
- Yasmeen Khafagy ‘25
Student and President, Otterbein Student Government
- Mahad Yusuf, ‘26
Student and Trustee, Otterbein Board of Trustees
- Blaine Bishop
Student and Dining Advisory Board representative
- Jim Smith
Assistant Director, Auxiliary Maintenance, Service Operations & Maintenance
- Bill Fox, Chair
Vice President, Student Affairs - Erin Bender
Executive Director, The Point, Institutional Advancement - Tracy Benner
Director of Residence Life, Student Affairs - Blaine Bishop
Student and Dining Advisory Board representative - Gina Calcamuggio
Senior Director, Brand and Content Management, Office of Marketing - Melissa Gilbert
Dean of Student Engagement, Student Affairs - Yasmeen Khafagy ‘25
Student and President, Otterbein Student Government - Jim Smith
Assistant Director, Auxiliary Maintenance, Service Operations & Maintenance - Hannah Wagner
Coordinator of Visits and Events, Office of Admission - Dana Viglietta
Executive Director of Engagement, Institutional Advancement - Mahad Yusuf, ‘26
Student and Trustee, Otterbein Board of Trustees
Contracted Services and Partners
- Giancarlo Del Vita, BHDP Architecture*
- Elizabeth Pence, McCarthy Consulting*
- Paul Orban, BHDP Architecture*
- Bill Cochrane, Parkhurst*
DINING EXPERIENCE UPGRADES: PROJECT GOALS and VALUES
Explore some of the principles that are guiding our decisions and the work we will ask our partners to do.
IMPROVING STUDENT LIFE: DINING EXPERIENCE FOCUS
- Foster community and connection
- Enhance resources for student engagement and well-being
- Improve Cardinal pride
IMPROVING STUDENT LIFE: GOALS FOR THE PHYSICAL DINING SPACE
We will work together to improve the physical space and enhance the overall dining experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests.
This project will …
- Create a destination that brings us together
- Maximize the use and enjoyment of other spaces in the Campus Center with this improvement
- Increase energy efficiency/sustainability (new windows, building systems)
- Install new furniture, fixtures, and equipment for a modernized campus dining hall
Come back to this page for the latest on this big project!
This is the spot to watch for:
- News and updates
- Polls, voting, and your opinion on some project decisions
- Project Schedule
- Project Partners and Collaborators
- Renderings of the new space
- And so much more!