It was originally dedicated on a homecoming weekend in 1972. Forty-three years later, “Ma Folger” would undoubtedly be proud of the “new” dining hall named in her honor. Indiana University of Pennsylvania will officially “cut the ribbon” to celebrate the newly renovated Folger Dining Hall on October 2, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.
The ribbon cutting is open to the community. Light refreshments reflecting future menus will be provided after the ceremony inside the building.
Folger Dining Hall is located on Pratt drive, across from the Suites on Maple East.
Folger Hall is named in honor of the late Olive K. Folger, affectionately known as “Ma Folger” by a generation of students. She was the dietitian at Indiana State Teachers College from 1934 until her retirement in 1958. The building was dedicated at homecoming weekend on October 27, 1972. Folger earned her bachelor of science degree in home economics from IUP (then Indiana State Teachers College) in 1948 and she was a member of Kappa Omicron Phi.
This renovated facility is phase two of IUP's $37-million dining master plan, IUP Dining Innovations. The $13.75-million renovation project began in May 2014.
Folger Dining Hall is designed to create specialized services and menus that match student lifestyles. It will include the Global Grill, which combines Mongolian, char and flattop grills preparing international dishes and traditional favorites; the Sandwich Artisan; Olive's Kitchen with traditional favorites, vegetarian dishes and features for those with special dietary needs; Pasta la Vista, featuring pizzas and pasta; Produce Market (salad bar); and Great Wraps, located in the lobby of the building.
Folger Dining Hall is also focused on being environmentally friendly. The floors are made from 97 percent natural raw materials, 72 percent of which are renewable and will grow back within 10 years. It is made with 43 percent recycled content. The chairs – a total of 239 of them -- are made from 26,529 recycled plastic soda bottles.
The 120 table bases are 99 percent consumer waste, fabricated from recycled cast iron automobile engine parts. At the end of their life, they are 100 percent recyclable. The wood table tops are Forest Stewardship Council Certified, coming from responsibly managed forests evaluated to meet the council's strict environmental and social standards.
The ash and elm planks on the wall are sourced from agricultural structures and are 100 percent post-consumer recycled. The resin panels are 40 percent pre-consumer recycled content.
Folger is IUP's first dining facility to use LED fixtures throughout the facility. The average energy reduction from fluorescent to LED is 35 percent. Occupancy sensors are used to dim the LEDs when required light levels are met with natural light. High efficiency plumbing fixtures also are used in the building.
The building's mechanical systems also are designed as energy efficient. For example, exhaust hoods in the kitchen and server areas run at full capacity during high use times; after prime dining hours, they run at low capacity. There is demand controlled ventilation in the high density areas of the building, which means that after hours, air conditioning slows down to save energy. Air conditioning and heating are reset based on outdoor air temperature as well.
Phase one of the project, The Crimson Café, is located on Eleventh Street across from Sprowls Hall and adjacent to the IUP Performing Arts Center. Opened in August 2014, this $6.5 million, 400-seat retail dining facility includes a Starbucks, the Crimson Bistro, Burger Studio and the Fireplace, plus a selection of grab-and-go items, including soup, salads, wraps and hot meals.
Dining Innovations concludes with Phase III, North Dining: A Destination, to be completed for the 2017-2018 academic year.
Dining revenues fund the renovation and construction of the three facilities that are part of the Dining Innovations Plan.
The IUP Council of Trustees approved the $37-million campus dining master plan in December 2011. The development of that plan by Desmone & Associates Architects, of Pittsburgh, and Envision Strategies, based in Colorado, was approved in 2010 and included extensive study, focus groups and surveys of students.
Some of the findings used to develop the campus dining master plan were as follows:
- An estimated 15 percent growth in campus meal plan participation to 7,000 students
- A need for new venues for students, with greater menu variety and an “all you care to eat” format
- A need for facilities more convenient from all areas of campus
- High demand for facilities with more intimate dining settings
The North Dining Commons, Phase III of the plan, will be located adjacent to Wallwork Hall in the footprint of what is now Keith Hall. It will have 450 seats and an “all you care to eat” format.
The North Dining Commons project will begin after the completion of the new humanities building, scheduled for January 2016, and the demolition of Keith Hall. Keith Hall will be replaced by the new humanities building.
The architects and planners determined that Foster Dining Hall, located at Grant and 11th streets and built in 1966, required renovations so extensive that it would not be cost effective to continue operations there. How the land Foster occupies will be used has not yet been determined.
IUP's long-range campus facilities master plan was approved by the Council of Trustees in December 2010.