The Subway inside of the University Student Commons is being remodeled and enlarged because pedestrian traffic has become so thick. VCU hopes to solve this congestion with new expansion projects.
VCU Dining Services and Aramark, which provide the University with most of its food, are funding the $200,000 project. Dan McDonald, assistant director of VCU Business Services, says the construction should be completed by the first week of December and the new Subway should open soon afterward.
“The facility will probably open officially upon the return from spring semester,” McDonald said.
Because of a bidding process, VCU initially wasn’t able to begin construction during spring 2008. The construction company that offered the best bid was Virtexco Construction Company. The designer that was chosen is CEGG Associated, who worked closely with Aramark to complete designs.
“Food service designs can be fairly complicated because of heating systems,” McDonald said.
McDonald said the project has been in the works for a long time. When the decision to renovate the Subway was made, the Online@VCU store had to be relocated as well as Bené Pizza and Pasta.
The reconstruction will involve a lot of repositioning. Jean Clark, the University Dining Services manager, says the registers will be on both Subway lines, and the convenience store will be moved to where Online@VCU used to be located.
VCU Business Services says Online@VCU is going to transfer to the Barnes and Noble on West Broad Street. Clark says Dining Services expect the Commons to be fully operational during the expansion and the move.
In the Commons, the sliding doors on Floyd Street have been shut off from public use in order to widen the entryway. People must temporarily use side doors to enter.
“I hate it. It’s so frustrating,” business major Daniel Ferguson said. “I know in theory, they’re going to make it bigger, which is better because it’s always congested over there. It’s annoying because people stand there at the vending machines getting soda out and you’ll be trying to get to class.”
Kris Koerner, a chemical engineering major, isn’t bothered by the obstruction.
“It’s not really that big a deal. It’s a little out of the way, but you can just go around.”
Some students are concerned that VCU is doing construction during fall semester when the Commons is crowded.
“This school does a lot of construction now, when they could be doing it over the summer,” said Nichole Savage, a vocal performance major. “It’s probably necessary, but they could have done it at a better time.”
Mike Martin, the resident district manager of Aramark Higher Education, says there really isn’t a delay in the project’s opening because VCU never committed to an official opening date.
“The project has taken longer than expected because of the Monroe Park campus expansion . with the new restaurants,” Martin said. “We just want to take the time to make sure everything is designed correctly.”