Photo from the 1985 Agromeck

Looking back in history, the Atrium received its last major renovation in the summer of 1985.  Formerly, a mouthful– Erdahl-Cloyd Annex of the D.H. Hill Library–the food court has transitioned over the years into the Atrium Annex and then, simply, the Atrium.

The 1985 renovation transformed the Brickyard dining facility into the Atrium we know today over the summer months from April to August.   Upon its grand opening, August 30, the new Atrium combined the Annex Snack Bar and Sir Bradley’s.  The renovation greatly expanded the space and upgraded the seating area from 250 to 300.  New features included decorative lighting, elevated sections, and seated and walk-up areas.

Former Atrium restaurants included the Annex Snack Bar, Sir Bradley’s, and Sunrise Creamery.  Breakfast items included an assortment of breakfast biscuits and juices.  Lunch and dinner options included an extensive salad bar, hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches, French fries, a soup counter, hamburgers, and a deli-line with homemade breads.

The Sunrise Creamery served NC State Ice Cream (branded Howling Cow Ice Cream in 2009).  The Creamery, a nod to the former brand name, is now located in the West Wing of the library and features ice cream scoops, sundaes, shakes, cookies, milk, soft drinks, and Wolfpack-to-Go items.

The biggest change during the former renovation transformed the service style into a station-style service area , allowing customers to enter the area they want without waiting in a traditional line.  The new renovations will take that even further, with even more of a food-court feel.

In 1985, to serve patrons in the Atrium’s absence, mobile hot dog carts were put in place along with special-event trailers to maintain continued service.  The 2010 renovation however, will be done in phases to ensure more robust food service to ensure students can still get their  Chick-fil-A sandwich or a Li’l Dinos sub before the new concepts open in January 2011.

“The new dining areas are being built to provide the campus with a more attractive and efficient dining and snacking operation,” said Walt Barkhouse, ’85 Director of Operations for University Dining.  Twenty-six years later, the same holds true.  The new Atrium will be more attractive, more efficient, but most importantly very tasty!

Construction Pictures:

An Example of a Temporary Seating Bubble

As you walk through the Brickyard this fall, you’ll notice a foreign object, but rest assured it’s not from outer space.  It’s the Brickyard Bubble, a rectangular-shaped temporary seating area that will be in place for the 2010-2011 academic year.

This week, the construction crew has fenced off an area for the Bubble’s new home in the Brickyard, near the Atrium.  They’ve started to frame the temporary seating area, which appears larger with the fencing in place.  The 50×80 foot rectangular enclosure is being delivered July 12 and will be installed over the next few weeks.

Why a temporary seating area? Since the Atrium is being renovated in phases to ensure continuous food service, we needed to provide an external place for our patrons to sit down to eat.  The temporary seating area will keep everyone comfortable and safe year-round.  It is equipped with heating and air as well as a sprinkler system.

Take a virtual stroll through the Brickyard below via our slideshow.  You’ll see a mound of upturned bricks in the pictures.  Construction crews are laying utility wires, but the bricks will be back in place soon.
The bubble slideshow