Evangel opens dining hall, begins phase II

Evangel University students got their first look inside the new Crusader Hall dining facility following a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. March 21, according to an Evangel press release.

Located just south of the existing cafeteria, the new, 600-seat hall offers almost twice the seating capacity of the old cafeteria. It features state-of-the-art food preparation facilities, two large conference rooms, and an executive dining room for board meetings and small private events.

The new dining facility is phase I of a two-phase project. With its opening, the existing cafeteria is being torn down to make way for phase II a new, two-story structure. The second phase will include the bookstore, student government and student activities offices, Career Development and the Wellness Center a combination of what are now the counseling and health centers, the release stated.

Also included will be The Joust, the snack bar/coffeehouse/game room facility, which was formerly located on the western edge of campus. University officials anticipate phase II will be ready for student use next fall.

Sapp Design Associates is the architectural firm for the project, and the general contractor is Gray General Contractors Inc. of Ozark. Harold Gray, the owner, is a 1971 Evangel graduate.