Levering receives makeover during summer - Food court made brighter, more visually pleasing

Levering Food Court received an overhaul this past summer, converting the previously darker atmosphere into a brighter, more well-lit open space.

The improvements were mainly cosmetic, aside from the removal of a wall and the replacement of the dome.

"We felt it was important to brighten, lighten the space [and] make it more contemporary and comfortable for the campus community," Dave Furhman, Director of Dining Programs at Hopkins, said.

Improvements included new light fixtures, new flooring, some new furniture, new window blinds and new paint.

And because the changes were mainly cosmetic, the budget was relatively modest, according to Furhman.

"One of the tenets of JHU Dining is continual improvement. And we have worked to update all of our dining facilities over the past several years. And Levering was that last piece that had not been addressed," Furhman said.

A committee consisting of members from the Office of Housing and Dining Services and the Homewood Student Affairs formed in the spring 2011 semester to create the designs for the renovations.

Based on feedback from Hopkins students, faculty and staff, the committee worked with an architect and designers to decide on the new look.

"The consensus was that it felt dark and cave-like," Furhman said about feedback his office received. "One key overriding objectives was to brighten the space."

As a major hub for hungry Hopkins students and faculty, construction was delayed until after commencement to prevent any serious inconveniences.

"We certainly didn't want to close Levering during the academic year," Furhman said.

However, the relatively short time period between design and construction meant logistics had to be more well organized.

"Because we had a short window to make the improvements, which began at the end of the school year, we had to get a jump start into ordering furniture and light fixtures that would take a long time to ship," Michael DiProspero, Senior Project Manager for Design and Construction at the Office of Facilities Management and manager of the Levering renovations, said.

Despite the short time period, the administration is pleased with its work.

"This has a more Johns Hopkins University feel to it," DiProspero said. "A lot of us are really proud of the new design."

Some students, however, were displeased with the new design.

"It looks like a garage," senior Sarah Shriver said.

Senior Bernardo Guzman had similar complaints.

"It feels more industrial, less homey," Guzman said. "It feels like FFC for upperclassmen."