Tag: North Carolina State University

Brickyard Bubble Takes Shape

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

We Want Food!

The construction fence is up and work has begun inside the Atrium. I will tell you more about the work in future blogs, but let’s start with the first question students ask: “Will we be able to get food during construction?”

The answer is, YES!

We are completing the project in phases to ensure continuous service during the fall and spring semesters. For the fall semester, look for a temporary serving area located in the current seating area, which will feature Chick-fil-A and Lil’ Dino’s. You will also be able to get delicious sandwiches, subs, pitas and wraps under our new Wolfpack-to-Go label at the Hill of Beans and the Creamery. Once you have your food, head out to our air-conditioned temporary eating facility in the Brickyard to enjoy your meal.

When January rolls around, we will debut the new venues in the serving area!  University Dining’s Chick-fil-A franchise will continue to be the centerpiece of the Atrium, complemented by several new “micro-restaurants”, including Asian/sushi, pasta/pizza, custom salads, and a wrap station. In addition, University Dining’s new Wolfpack-to-Go line (currently offered on a limited basis in the Creamery, Hill of Beans and Vet School) will have its own space for those who want to grab fresh-made deli items and keep moving when a tight class schedule dictates. Seating will still be offered in the temporary facility on the Brickyard.

We’ll have to close down again for the summer to tie in the air conditioning, vents, sprinkler system, as well as renovate the back kitchen, but when August 2011 rolls around, we’ll be running full tilt from the new-and-improved Atrium Food Court.

Thanks for your interest in the project! If you have ideas for blog topics related to the Atrium, please let me know! My email address is jennifer_gilmore@ncsu.edu.