Newly refurbished Great Room offers dining, meeting space for students
Clad in an NUCuisine jacket and chef’s hat, President Schapiro was on hand Tuesday night to unveil Northwestern’s new student hangout, a refurbished historic dining hall called the “Great Room.”
Located at 610 Haven Street, the Great Room, which previously served as a reading room in the Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, will offer food, TV and wireless access to Northwestern students. The room will be open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday-Thursday.
At the ceremonial ribbon cutting Tuesday evening, President Schapiro described the room as aesthetically magnificent, and lauded the team that restored the room for a job well done.
“I’m particularly excited at the chance for [the opportunities] to off-campus students,” Schapiro said. “The Great Room is an alternative to Burger King – not that there’s anything wrong with Burger King, but this is a beautiful venue.”
In addition to its proximity to campus, the Great Room is open as late as or later than any other campus dining facility Sunday through Thursday. Boasting “pub grub” complete with a burger bar, espresso machine, and small C-store, the Great Room doesn’t discriminate. Two long tables down the center are ideal for big groups, while smaller round tables on the side are perfect for individual studying. Couches at the back of the room allow for an full absorption of the Hogwarts-like view.
According to project manager, Associate Director for Food Service and Configuration Planning Anne Vanosdol, the most comfortable chair in the room is located in the back-right corner. The chairs were custom made. “I wanted them to fit my legs, because it’s all about me, isn’t it?”
Vanosdol devoted her summer vacation to the restoration, starting the project in the last week of July. She insists she merely shined up the room, and that it was magnificent to begin with.
Weinberg sophomore Matt Kluk called it a great use of space, saying that the reading room was “sort of a waste.”
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Weinberg sophomore Matt Kluk called it a great use of space, saying that the reading room was “sort of a waste.”
…Am I missing something here or does that not make sense?
wha
October 21, 2009 at 8:59 am
Yeah, I had that same reaction too. But then I realized that Matt Kluk probably means that the reading room was a waste of space. So now that they’ve made it into the Great Room, it’s pretty sweet.
@ wha
October 21, 2009 at 9:41 am
It would be sweet if this article had some pictures.
pics?
October 21, 2009 at 12:46 pm
PIctures are up :)
Katherine Zhu
October 21, 2009 at 10:42 pm
It would be nice if South Campus had something like Lisa’s/Great Room. BK is not my first choice.
Carrie
October 22, 2009 at 12:31 am
Hinman late night is a good choice. It’s used to be A LOT better when it had a lot of choices in it’s made-to-order menu, but it has been cut down as of last year.
Mike
October 22, 2009 at 12:51 am
@mike: hinman doesn’t have late night….
confused
October 22, 2009 at 2:26 am
Looks like the administration forgot to talk to students… AGAIN.
If they did, they would know that there already is a great room on campus (it’s in jones, and it is used by a cappella and theater groups for performances, among other things).
Basically, it’s going to be very confusing when groups are trying to advertise their events that will be held in the great room.
great job administration
October 22, 2009 at 9:31 am
They don’t have late night anymore? I thought it was just different than it was two years ago. Well I guess my point was that it Hinman late-night wasn’t as good as it used to be, so the fact that Hinman doesn’t have it now doesn’t really change my earlier statement. Last year’s version sucked.
Mike
October 22, 2009 at 9:51 am
Well, the groups could just put “Jones Great Room” when they put up the advertisements.
Also, it’s nice to see another late night place, but it’s still on North Campus…which already has Lisa’s. So people on South Campus are still going to go to BK since it’s less of a walk.
Well
October 22, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Why would student groups have their performances in a dining hall? It’s not confusing, just use common sense.
I’m all for it! Looks awesome!
Alexandra
October 23, 2009 at 11:37 pm
also, its NUCuisine. and NUCuisine sucks. It’s overpriced sodexo, which is exactly what i’m not looking for on a late night. a 24 place serving good food on south campus would make a KILLING!
Jake
October 26, 2009 at 11:02 am