Williams Cafeteria has a new look and new features that will surely have students proud of their Café.Renovation costs for Williams Cafeteria were $10.1 million and included the replacement of the heating and air conditioning system, expanding the footprint of the building 30 percent to increase overall seating capacity to 1,000, equipping the facility with an audio/video system that includes video monitors and surround sound and installing wireless networking capabilities.”The exterior was renovated and enhanced to create a better dining experience and ambience,” said Todd Johnson, director of auxiliary services. “This was accomplished by opening the building and making a glass picture storefront that overlooks the Holland Bowl.” On the inside, Williams Cafeteria will feature a new food court that will house restaurant chains Pizza Hut and Krispy Kreme. There will also an Aggie Gift shop on the first floor that will sale A&T and Greek paraphernalia.Also on the first floor are the Chancellor’s Dining Area, which will be used for chancellor-hosted events, a specialty dining area that will serve as a location for catered events, as well as a dining area for faculty and staff and a student carryout area.The main dining area for students is located on the second floor and will have a variety of dining stations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner stations will include a southern-style breakfast, traditional home style, American grill, stir fry, deli and soup bar, pasta and potato bar, a “thirst base” with a full selection of beverages and a bakery and dessert bar. There will also be an Aggie fruit and salad bar that will feature over 20 items.”In terms of a primary dining facility, our new Williams Cafeteria will rank among leading colleges and universities in terms of what a facility can offer,” said Johnson.Meal plans for next semester have also been revised to provide more flexibility to students with busy schedules. “Rather than limiting the number of meals per week, students will be able to eat anywhere using their flex dollars,” said Johnson.”Flex” dollars are assigned to each meal plan and are similar to having a declining balance. The amount of “flex” dollars a student has will vary from plan to plan. If student has a balance remaining after the fall semester, the balance will roll over to the spring semester, but there will be no refunds for a remaining balance at the end of the spring semester.Here is a look at the new meal plan with “flex” dollars:Meal Plan A: 19 meals per week, plus $100 Aggie flex dollarsMeal Plan B: 14 meals per week, plus $200 Aggie flex dollars.Meal Plan C: Seven meals per week, plus $200 Aggie flex dollarsThe cost of each meal plan will also increase to support the new facility. Plans to open the new cafeteria are set for early to mid-June, with a formal opening in August. “Plans, due to the number of students on meal plans for summer school, are to open the second floor to accommodate summer school and freshman orientation, then to open the first floor as it’s completed in mid- to late-summer,” said Johnson.

• Codie Sanders