Centre Pointe Lounge dining complex opens with celebration

The SUNY Fredonia dining hall landscape has once again taken a major step forward.

Following its stunning Cranston Marche facility which opened in 2006 in the University Commons, as well as its newly renovated Erie Dining Hall, which reopened this past spring, Fredonia is proud to announce yet another beautiful and contemporary dining complex.

On Wednesday, Sept. 3, the campus will officially dedicate the $4 million Centre Pointe Lounge, which replaces the long-standing “Connections” food court in the basement of the Williams Center. The facility began operations today, but its official ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 9:00 a.m. Wednesday.

The 28,000-square-foot project includes the complete renovation of the entire lower level of the Williams Center (the campus student union). Centre Pointe Lounge contains a new food court, kitchen, and banquet facility, as well as more offices for Fredonia’s Faculty Student Association (FSA) Dining Services. The project was fully funded using non-state dollars and led by FSA, with financing by Lake Shore Savings Bank.

“The breathtaking Centre Pointe Lounge will become another major focal point for SUNY Fredonia, greatly enhancing the quality of campus life for all of our residents and visitors,” President Dennis L. Hefner said. “Not only will this fully transformed facility serve a highly functional need and increase the quality and variety of dining facilities we offer, but it will also provide an exciting new alternative for academic and social gatherings, especially those in which catering is a primary consideration.”

In addition to the main food court’s array of deli, pizza and grill items, a special area dubbed “Trendz” will feature a menu of freshly made foods including smoothies, paninis, gourmet salads, and fresh-baked cookies. Both venues will incorporate state-of-the-art digital menu boards.

Centre Pointe will also include the new “Horizon Room,” a section available for catering functions that will also be used as a lunchtime dining area for faculty and staff.

The Centre Pointe Lounge main seating area will feature a variety of seating elements, some areas with flat screen TV’s and message boards, as well as a campus Wi-Fi network with custom recharging stations. It will be open daily until midnight.

“This has been an exciting and eagerly awaited project for all of us on campus,” said Charles Notaro, associate vice president and executive director for FSA. “The cooperation we’ve received from the Fredonia administration and the support from the community has been tremendous.”

The Centre Pointe Lounge architectural design is by Hamilton, Houston, Lownie Architects, collaborating with Roche & Co. for interior planning and design, both of Buffalo, N.Y. Construction management was provided by LeChase Construction Services of Rochester, N.Y.

FSA Dining Services serve over 7,500 meals a day. Its services are self-operated, diverse, and state-of-the-art, with a goal of providing high-quality foods in a fiscally responsible fashion. FSA operates a variety of dining facilities including two “all-you-care-to-eat” buffets, and an “a la Carte” (fast-food-style) cafeteria. Each offers a variety of food choices including healthy selections, as well as vegan, and vegetarian choices.