A newly renovated dining hall and student union is now open at Iona University in New Rochelle.
LaPenta Student Union, which is two stories tall and spans 20,000 square feet, has been transformed to reflect the ongoing commitment of the university to elevate the student experience.
Features of the new dining hall are expansive windows that maximize natural light and retractable doors that open to outdoor patios. The menu has also been upgraded and includes hand-crafted deli sandwiches, pastas, and international cuisine in addition to vegetarian and vegan dishes, gluten-free options, fresh, non-GMO snacks, and high protein smoothies.
The regional vice president for Chartwells Higher Education, Peter L. Bonacci, said that the dining hall also expanded the use of ordering kiosks and other convenience options, such as grab-and-go and the LSU Market.
There is a student lounge and club meeting space spanning 6,000 square feet on the ground floor that provides cozy seating areas, multipurpose space for student organizations, a gas fireplace, and flat screen televisions. Such updated spaces can benefit from flyer printing to inform students of such upgrades that can create places to connect beyond the classroom.
The president of Iona University, Seamus Carey, Ph.D., expressed his excitement about providing students with a state-of-the-art dining facility at the heart of the campus and a space that will facility interactions among students.
