American International College to Renovate Dining Commons

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) is embarking on an $8 million renovation of its dining commons.

The new, state-of-the-art facility will occupy the existing dining-commons space and include a building expansion, a wider variety of seating, and a more abundant variety of food options and services, including customized food preparation, an exhibition kitchen featuring hands-on cooking classes, a wood-fired oven, and more, presented in a contemporary, dynamic, and open setting.

Construction is expected to be completed in time for the beginning of the fall semester. In the interim, the existing dining commons will be closed for the spring semester, and transitional dining has been set up in the Schwartz Campus Center. Chartwells, AIC’s dining-services vendor, will continue to provide the same quality of food and service throughout the process. AIC will provide additional benefits and flexibility to those students with current all-access meal plans that will allow them to expand food venues and options to include the Hive and the Yellow Jackets Express food truck in addition to the transitional dining commons.

While there was a cosmetic remodel of the dining room in 2007, the last complete renovation of the dining commons took place in 1966, nearly 50 years ago. The new facility will be a place for students to come together in a much more comfortable and modern setting. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for early spring.