Staff Report
UNM has spent the past four months renovating the atrium in the University's cafeteria in hopes it will become a focal point of the community for years to come.
The atrium, which has for years been a drafty room that wasn't very inviting to students looking for a place to eat, was in dire need of a facelift, said Bob Schulte, director of housing and food services at UNM.
"You had to be a hearty soul to decide to eat your meal there," Schulte said.
The outdated skylight system that covered the room often leaked, he said, and the large fountain that inhabited the area wasn't very user friendly.
"You couldn't even see the other side of the room when you were in there," he said.
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The project, which includes replacing the skylights with fiberglass panels, replacing the fountain with a new one designed to replicate the Albuquerque area and replacing the furniture in the room began in mid-October.
The $100,000 renovation, scheduled to be completed by March 22, has not been without its problems, though, Schulte said.
"When the University saw how much it was going to cost, they gulped and said 'oh my God!'" he said.
Aramark, UNM's food distributor, footed the bill for the fountain and the new furniture, he said, and the University paid for the replacement skylights.
The fountain, designed by a local artist, is complete with a rendering of the Sandia Mountains, with several small streams leading to a replica of the Rio Grande River.
"It really is something else," Schulte said. "No one thought the design would turn out as good as it did."
Many UNM students said they haven't minded not having the atrium at their disposal during its renovation and are happy the University is doing the work on it that was needed.
Sandra Edwards, a UNM sophomore, said she refused to eat in the old atrium because it was often too cold, but said she is looking forward to the new one.
"Eating in the cafeteria is not that pleasant of an experience anyway, so anything new will be well received I think," she said.
Schulte said he hopes the renovated room will become a focal point of UNM, possibly even playing host to future events.
"Hopefully, it will be something the University can take pride in," he said.
