What's new
Commons, the largest dining hall on Main Campus, reopened Monday after a 12-week, $8.4 million renovation. The building had not had a major update since 1998.
- 180 more seats, for a total of 820, including long communal tables and a quiet room for studying
- A separate allergen-free kitchen, certified free of the nine most common allergens
- A late-night cafe on the west side, open until 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday
- Expanded Harvest station for locally sourced food
- New windows along the south wall and energy-efficient kitchen equipment
Less waste, less energy
The renovation replaced gas cooking lines with induction equipment, which Dining Services expects to cut the building's energy use by about 30 percent. Trays are gone for good, and a new dish return system separates food scraps for composting.
The Harvest station, launched in 2024, now has twice the counter space. Local farms supplied 41 percent of Commons produce last year.
The quiet room on the second floor seats 60 and has outlets at every table. It is open to all students, with or without a meal plan, and has quickly become one of the most popular study spots on campus.
Hours
Commons is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, and the late-night cafe from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. Summer hours are shorter through August 20. See the Commons page for menus.
Meal plan prices are unchanged for the 2026–27 year. Students with food allergies can meet with the campus dietitian to set up a plan for the allergen-free kitchen.
