With a student body that has declined over the years, the University of Montana needed for more facilities to attract new students. With an eye towards growing future enrollment, the University wanted to expand it’s dining options beyond the outdated Food Zoo.
The University of Montana enlisted the help of NAC Architecture to design a new student-centric dining hall that would accommodate student’s desire for healthier food options, space to study, and generally feel a sense of community. The result is The Lodge, which sits in the middle of campus making it accessible for all students coming and going.
Moving away from the buffet-style layout of the Food Zoo, The Lodge houses seven “micro-restaurants” that offer students food sourced from Montana farms, gardens, and ranches that have been a part of the local community for years. Dubbed a Love Letter to Montana, the restaurants offer everything from burgers to baked goods to noodles to Latin cuisine. Considered to be the first step in the University’s Student Life Master Plan created by SMA Architects in Helena, Montana, to enhance the student life experience, The Lodge can hold up to 700 students at a time, in a variety of seating areas, roof decks, and a private dining room for events.
Helping bring architectural concepts to life, Mutual Materials was honored to be a supplier of masonry products for The Lodge. The surrounding brick veneer is a spectrum of reds and browns that reflect the colors of nearby Mount Sentinel. The palette is comprised of mission texture, utility-size (3 5/8″ x 3 5/8″ x 11 5/8″) brick in the colors of Mauna Loa, Inca, and Brown Varitone. We also supplied the ground face concrete masonry units for the trash enclosure adjacent to the dining hall.
Under President Bodner’s leadership new buildings are sprouting up all across the UM campus, enrollment is up, but most importantly, enthusiasm and Grizzly pride is back on campus. –
Torin Dixon, Commercial Sales Representative, Mutual Materials
If you are interested in learning how Mutual Materials brick and its wide variety of color options can meet your project’s needs from both a structural and visual standpoint, please contact one of our architectural sales reps at 1-888-688-8250.
Citations