The Ferguson Center is expanding and renovating to accommodate the increasing number of students at The University of Alabama. With the Ferguson Center closed for Summer 2014, students should expect the Fresh Food Company to relocate to a new location, allowing for the construction of new eateries in place of its former location.

Cathy Andreen, director of media relations, said the new location of the Fresh Food Company will be a stand-alone building on Margaret Drive next to Rodger’s Library, and the space currently occupied by Fresh Food in the Ferguson Center will become an expanded wing of the food court.

(See also “Bama Dining’s leftover food used in UA Arboretum composts“)

“The vacated space will allow the food court to expand to meet the customer demands and population growth,” Andreen said. “With the Ferguson Center being closed for construction during summer 2014, it is the perfect opportunity to incorporate the vacated Fresh Food Company space into an expanded and enhanced food court. The new food court will include Wendy’s, a full service Chick-fil-A restaurant, Panda Express, expanded Subway, Topio’s Pizza & Pasta and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. We anticipate seating for 800 in the new food court.”

With the number of students who decide to come to The University of Alabama growing every year, moving the Fresh Food location to a stand-alone building will allow the dining hall to serve more students, she said.

“It will be centrally located in relation to the residence halls, Science and Engineering Complex, Crimson Ride Hub, and areas of future growth on the Bryce property,” Andreen said. “The new Fresh Food Company will include all of the cuisine styles found in the current facility, but seating will be doubled to provide accommodation for about 550 customers.”

(See also “Renovations bring dining to Paty Hall“)

Many students are eagerly awaiting the completion of the rennovation and construction of the new dining hall. Park Mahathey, a freshman majoring in communication studies, said he thinks the renovation is necessary for the University’s growing community and that the new construction will be a great addition to the Ferg.

“This new renovation will give students more choices and allow more room for seating,” Mahathey said. “With more eatery choices, students will have more options, hopefully diminishing lines a sizable amount. Also, with a new stand alone Fresh Foods, there will be much more room for students to eat, study and socialize. It may also be a closer walk than the Ferg for some students.”

Hilary Buchanan, a freshman majoring in nursing, said the new food court has the potential to benefit the Ferguson Center in more ways than one.

“First, moving the Fresh Foods will allow for more seating in the Ferg, which will come in handy at such a big school,” Buchanan said. “We will be getting several new and appealing places that will encourage more people to eat at the Ferg, which could be beneficial financially and for facilities in the Ferg such as the SUPe Store.”

(See also “Dining halls strive to source food locally“)