Newly renovated dining centre gets more than just a facelift

UCalgary’s Dining Centre is celebrating an epic milestone with help from Food and Conference Services and Aramark, the University’s food service provider. On Sept. 27, the newly renovated Landing was launched by Reece Vandersanden, Residence Students' Association president; Linda Dalgetty, finance and services vice-president; Chef Paul; Jill Blackie, food and conference services associate director; and Shane Royal, Ancillary Services director (above) — ceremoniously opening its doors to everyone and anyone on campus with a hankering for a good meal.

“Over the summer, we gutted the entire space and absorbed the Alberta Room, a well-used meeting space on campus, and turned the whole thing into additional seating,” says Jill Blackie, associate director of food and conference services.

“We redid the front facing serving area, created additional seating, and made the space brighter and more inviting for the students.”

In addition to coats of paint, shining tiles and bright windows, Blackie says the design choices of The Landing, down to the choice of tables and chairs, were selected for a singular purpose — to bring students together.

“One of the biggest benefits of the renovation is that it builds community. Students are meeting and gathering at large tables they’re eating together — taking time to talk to one another, which supports healthy living,” Blackie says.

Because The Landing serves meals on re-usable dishware, using real flatware and glassware, Blackie says the renovation makes the space feel more like a home — like a kitchen or dining space students can relate to. The Landing also doesn’t do takeout, which means students get the opportunity to dine together and make connections along the way.

Meal plan also gets a facelift

Jill Blackie says the largest motivator for the renovation and meal plan update was student satisfaction: "Surveys told us students weren’t happy with the value for the price paid; they were not happy with the choice and options with the previous meal plan. We listened and we responded and so far we're hearing great feedback from new and returning students."

The renovation of the space was brought on by a change in the meal plan program. Starting this semester, residence meal plans have been updated from a declining-balance system to All You Care to Eat.

“It's better value for students, especially in their first year when they come and live with us in Residence, because they don’t have to think about what they’re going to eat, how much it costs, or choosing cheaper options with lower nutritional value because they’re worried about their balance.”

Louise Hudson, national marketing director for Aramark, says that community was top-of-mind when creating UCalgary’s custom menu.

“We do All You Care to Eat plans all across the country, but The Landing is personalized to what the UCalgary campus community needs,” she says. “People engage in different ways, so we had to think ‘what’s the right set-up here?’”

Part of the customization, according to Hudson, is the pronounced availability of lactose-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and Halal options.

“That’s the thing with our All You Care to Eat program — we have so much flexibility we can respond to student needs in real time.”

Sustainability at the forefront

Blackie and Hudson both agree that sustainability was also a major factor in the renovations, both for the meal plan and the space.

“The only waste stream we have with these changes is compost — there are no packaged goods, no takeout containers and we use re-usable dishware  and real flatware,” Hudson says.

When seating over 1,000 individuals on campus at any given meal period, Blackie says the amount of garbage left The Landing before the renovation was immense.

“Given that sustainability is one of the pillars of the Eyes High strategy, it’s important we pay attention to it and weave that thread through everything we do,” Blackie says, adding that sustainability also means supporting local growers and producers.

Learn more about All You Care to Eat, sustainability, or visit The Landing next time you need a nutritious, delicious and sustainable meal.