The Miley Hall Transformation: "Micro Dining for All"
Program
Salve Regina University sought to renovate and expand the 10,000-sf student commons area and dining facility which included the dining servery, entry lobby, bookstore, student affairs office, student lounge, and café.
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Solution
Salve Regina’s Miley Hall needed to be transformed. Located in the heart of Newport Rhode Island’s Bellevue Historic District, the University recognized the need to modernize its outdated facility to foster increasing student social interaction and compete with peer Universities. The solution was a completely redesigned and expanded student center and dining commons that was to become a destination for students and staff. At the heart of the transformation are the colorful student lounge areas, fireplace niches for study and relaxation, pool hall, Starbucks Café, bookstore and the introduction of micro-dining restaurants into the expanded seating areas.
The Dining Common’s new flowing floor plan bustles with the smells and textures of its 7 micro dining eateries that feature market-style offerings, display cooking and fresh ingredients – giving customers authentic choices, linking diner and chef together in one vibrant dining community. The design of each eatery platform utilizes the unique rich textures of surrounding Newport and evokes the language of inspiration in forms and finishes. Colorful glass tile, cool slate deep mahogany finishes, brick hearths and stained glass canopies enliven the spaces. The result is a dynamic yet relaxed experience where food and the abundance of choice take center stage.
