In celebration of the completion of the dining area in Jernigan Student Center, students, faculty and staff enjoyed a free lunch when Trevecca’s newest space was used for the first time on Tuesday, March 15.
The renovated dining room, which occupies most of the building’s first floor, now has the capacity to seat 450 students, an upgrade from the previous 322-seat cafeteria. The remainder of the building, which will receive finishing touches in the coming weeks, includes a cafe and marketplace, the new Spirit Store, an upgraded commercial kitchen and a new office suite for Student Government and the Diversity Council. Also included in the renovations are second-floor meeting spaces with views of downtown Nashville and open lounges throughout the building. More furniture and signage will be added soon. An outdoor pavilion with a large video wall is also in the works, and the building’s exterior will be refurbished over the summer.
For Dr. Dan Boone, Trevecca’s president, the opening of Jernigan’s dining room is a time to be thankful and look to the future with anticipation.
“Today is a celebration. I am grateful for the students and how they endured much of this year in less than ideal dining circumstances,” said Boone. “I am also looking forward to seeing the whole community sitting together with no restrictions, faculty and students. It's going to be great.”
Student dining had been moved to another building on campus since work began last summer.
The Jernigan renovation is one of several construction projects that are in progress on Trevecca’s grounds. Next in line for completion this spring are the addition of a new health sciences wing in the STEM building and a new facility for the school’s golf teams. Construction is also underway on a new seven-story residence hall that’s scheduled to be finished in 2023.