Posted on Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 12:06 p.m.
Students sit on floor to eat as U-M's North Quad dining facility overflows
By Cindy Heflin
North Quad opened to students in fall of 2009. The dining facility has proved popular with students.
AnnArbor.com file photo
The North Quad dining hall has a maximum capacity of 197 patrons, and often handles 700 to 800 student diners between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., the Daily reported. Diners often have to sit on the floor, according to the article.
North Quad, built on the site of the former Frieze Building, opened last fall.
Comments
A2James
Sun, Oct 30, 2011 : 3:01 p.m.
As a U-M employee who formerly worked for the Dining Services department, I am familiar with the planning, construction, and execution of the North Quad dining hall. Evidently, the "powers that be" intentionally made a relatively small ( < 200 ) seating area, as well as a scramble area type layout to order and receive food, in order to get students in and out of there as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, they never realized that students like to take their time while eating, and of course being the only dining hall in the immediate area, the place is going to be busy regardless. Needless to say, the opening of the North Quad dining area went very different than planned. Just goes to show: feedback from students and staff is a hell of a lot more relevant (and cheaper!) than paying consultants thousands of dollars for ideas..!
A2comments
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 11:07 a.m.
It's amazing, that given that this is the ONLY dining hall on the NW corner of campus, that U of M didn't plan for a large lunch crowd. Pretty poor planning. What is the legal occupancy for the room? A2.com, please go read the plaque on the wall.
lynel
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 10:04 p.m.
While I think it's great that Peter Logan, a spokesman from the U of M's Housing Dept., doesn't see any fire hazards, but since the AAFD protects the U, the AA fire marshall should look into this. A room with a capacity of 197 should never have more than 197 present at any given time.
Long Time No See
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 5:21 a.m.
The details seem somewhat unclear, but I suspect that "seating capacity" of 197 doesn't necessarily equate to "legal room capacity" of 197.
Sparty
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.
Why the bitter attitude towards the students of UM? All this talk about BMW's, those "poor" students, etc. sounds like yet another version of "class warfare". They are young people here to get an education. Geez, it's a positive thing --- no different than a positive rating on a restaurant and those get posted here as well.
cinnabar7071
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 9:41 p.m.
Long Time No See That was my point. People that whine about having to sit on the floor to eat just seem a little overly spoiled. I mean come have they never picniced. By the way I like BMW's and the people who drive them, just not spoiled people. I bet they just ran out of Gray Poupon.
Long Time No See
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 9:01 p.m.
Sorry, I really have no sympathy for the students who are whining about this. There is plenty of capacity at other dining halls which were the *only* options prior to North Quad. Suddenly it's a hardship for students to use the same facilities that were just fine before?
Ann
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.
Worse overcrowded conditions have occurred in the past at UM residence halls. Years and years ago (1964) when I entered UM, the University ran out of space for new students coming into the dorms in September so that I and 90 other girls had to bunk on the top floor of South Quad for a month until the University finally found rooms for us to triple up in at other dorms across the campus. Can you imagine what an outcry that would be nowadays!
Crazymad
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 6:22 p.m.
Sitting on the floor means that they are over the legal capacity for providing service, this is an unsafe sitution and they need to close the doors when the number of students in line and at tables reach capacity until space is avaiable. The fire marshall should be on U of M's case.
jns131
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 2:52 p.m.
This also occurs at the high schools as well. I remember sitting outside the cafeteria eating lunch with friends as the cafeteria was full. Nothing big about that as long as the doorways are open and clear. Now if you are eating off the floor that is something else entirely.
Long Time No See
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 9 p.m.
Read the Daily article. They looked into that, and they believe that fire codes and health codes are not being violated. Please feel free to waste the fire marshal's time, if that floats your boat.
cinnabar7071
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 6:10 p.m.
They could take their lunch and eat it in the comfort of their BMW's if they dont like what the U has set up.
a2cents
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 5:11 p.m.
Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded (?)
tommy_t
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 5:42 p.m.
Yogi-ism
John A2
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 4:58 p.m.
OK, so, they sit on the floor and eat. I still don't see a problem, unless their handicapped. Again where's the beef. These are young people and I am really having a problem trying to figure out why this is news worthy of our time. Maybe take a second and think before you report on such matters. OH! my those poor children, why doesn't that bad university build a dinning room big enough to seat 700 people. Don't they know who these kids are. Bad bad UofM, Psych.
smokeblwr
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.
Sounds rough!! Poor kids. Let me get my tiny violin and play them a song.
Bertha Venation
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
WoW! They must have real good grub!
jns131
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 2:43 p.m.
Or it is the dining atmosphere that draws them in. Need to check that one out.