The construction of Eaglebrook’s new dining hall is finally coming to an end! As you have probably noticed, there is a lot of construction going on in the Baines parking lot behind the Gibbs dining hall. At Eaglebrook, the new dining hall is on the way to providing a better dining experience for the community. The estimated time of arrival is the end of May or early June. The goal is for Sixth Formers to have one meal in the new dining hall at the end of this academic year. The new dining hall will feature some upgrades over our current facility. The new dining hall’s back door is easier to access from the new loading dock and has a much easier structure. The new dining hall consists of one main floor for the loading dock, the dining hall, the main kitchen, the bakery, the storage, the refrigeration room, the sub kitchen accessible to the school, and the cooking classroom. Since the loading dock is on the same floor as all the other facilities, the faculty and staff members who work in the kitchen have a faster, quicker, and easier route in the new dining hall. Also, the cooking classroom allows students to learn how to cook and bake, which is a huge advantage, as it provides an interactive learning experience. The new dining hall also solves the problem of limited space, as the Gibbs Dining Hall was meant for only half of the enrolled students today, since there were about half as many enrolled students when Gibbs was built. The new dining hall can accommodate more than 400 people.
The building will be carved into the hillside, leaving portions of the hill intact, making use of green roofs, and is supported by heavy timber glulam posts & beams. The layout and orientation take advantage of the western view. Outdoor dining terraces further integrate the building into the hillside. The dining hall will be net zero energy, powered by 21 geothermal wells and large photovoltaic arrays. It also takes advantage of the natural insulation from large temperature swings that buildings within the earth provide.
After the new dining hall is made, Mr. Smith and his crew will have another task to complete. The Gibbs dining hall will be replaced with a new learning space. The classrooms in Baines and the Health Center will be moved to the Gibbs dining hall. Baines, on the other hand, will be shut down, with its future unknown. Baines will continue to frame Gates Quad, but some of the original pathways will be replaced.
As we move forward, let’s be ready for the future with open minds, welcome the new facilities, and be thankful for the changes and for everybody who helped with the construction.
