A renovation project to improve the Leonard Hall delivery area and dining hall will begin in early May and be completed over the next two summers.

The project, approved by the Board of Trustees, will include exterior and interior improvements and will take place in two phases.

The first phase starts on May 3 and is planned to be completed by the end of August. This phase will see the rebuilding of the truck delivery receiving area, and storage expansion on the west side of the building along Collingwood Street, to improve the delivery process. Garbage facilities will be enclosed to make them less visible to neighbouring properties and an enclosed refrigerated storage area will be added for green bins. The asphalt will also be replaced with concrete.

“The renovations to the loading dock and storage improvements will reduce the number of required daily deliveries,” says Jennifer Pete, Associate Director, Housing and Ancillary Services. “As a result, this will lead to a reduction in local traffic and noise within the immediate neighbourhood and it will support the university’s sustainability initiatives.”

On the east side of the building, a new entrance to the Leonard dining hall will provide a single centrally located, accessible entrance. Currently, wheelchair access is located at the south-west end of the building.  Other aspects of the renovation this summer include plumbing, electrical, and mechanical improvements.

The second phase, a renovation of the interior dining hall, will take place from May 2022 to August 2022 and will include new food stations and kitchen equipment. The focus of the redesign will be on showcasing whole foods in support of healthy and diverse menu options, as well as waste reduction and education initiatives that address food insecurity, through interactive Chef demonstrations at a new teaching kitchen station.

The project will require a significant amount of activity in the immediate area during the work periods outlined.

For more information or questions about the project, contact ppsconst@queensu.ca.