University of Kansas – Ekdahl Dining Center (Mrs. E’s)

The $5 million renovation was a complete overhaul of the existing facility, with updated décor, contemporary finishes, enhanced menus and new service styles. We addressed the issues of circulation, inefficient use of space and equipment that was outdated and did not comply with current health codes. All materials, equipment and finishes were chosen with sustainability and durability in mind. Special attention was given to new food selections and ensuring variety and quality for today’s college students’ ever-changing palettes.

The servery needed to move 1,000 students per hour smoothly and at speeds that will not overload the facility. Eleven food concepts now provide guests with an array of options. Each new concept is a streamlined station designed for improved traffic flow and speedy service.

New concepts are geared to the tastes of today’s students, from stone hearth copper oven pizza to the colossal soup & salad bar, made to order sandwiches, ethnic dishes, comfort foods and the KYou Zone which caters to students with specific dietary needs such as gluten free, vegetarian, Kosher and Halal.

The dining room layout has been improved as well, giving students multiple options with 700 seats on three levels. Ekdahl serves approximately 1,800 meals at dinner and 3,500 meals per day. The renovation included 5,200 SF in the servery and seating areas. The demolition and completion of the project was done in two and a half months.