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Visitors welcome on UND campus despite ongoing construction

Work on main thoroughfare and student union to continue throughout the summer.

Signs.jpg
Signs pointing people in the right direction will remain up throughout the UND campus as construction continues over the next few months. (Photo by Sydney Mook / Grand Forks Herald)

While University Avenue and building construction may be going on at UND this summer, campus is still open for visitors.

Navigating UND may take a little extra time due to detours and road closures, but the university, and many of its amenities, is still open and doing its best to point people in the right direction for the next few months.

“We still want people to come to our campus this summer,” said Brian Larson, associate director of construction management at UND.

Parking is available to students, faculty and staff behind the Chester-Fritz Auditorium, behind Archives Coffee shop, along Campus Road and behind Twamley Hall. The parking ramp at the corner of University Avenue and Columbia Road will remain open throughout construction. Pay-by-the-hour parking is available throughout campus, including the top two floors of the ramp.

Free parking is available on campus on nights, weekends and holidays for visitors and campus community members.

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Dining on campus

Dining services moved out of Memorial Union more than a week ago, Orlynn Rosaasen, director of dining services, said. Now, the department is working on relocating food options throughout campus. Squires Dining Hall will also have ala carte options. The department will open a convenience store/coffee shop in O’Kelly Hall, which will include traditional convenience store options, as well as sandwiches and other to-go items.

Rosaasen said that prior to the start of the fall semester a coffee cart also will be opened in Columbia Hall. Other on-campus options will remain relatively unchanged with the Wilkerson Commons staying open during construction on University Avenue. Burgers on the Boulevard will continue this summer on Wednesdays and New Flavors Food Truck will be on campus in the coming months, though dates have not been set yet.

Campus catering is now located in Wilkerson Hall.

“It’s going to be challenging,” Rosaasen said, noting staff will help direct students and others where to go to help alleviate concerns.

Heather Schneider, executive chef at the North Dakota Museum of Art Cafe, said she was initially very nervous about campus construction and how it would impact customers this summer. However, Schneider said customer traffic has actually increased since construction began about two weeks ago.

“I think what’s happening is people don’t want to give up their parking spots, so instead of leaving for lunch they’re coming (to the cafe), which we’re pleasantly surprised by,” she said, noting that people are also still able to navigate campus and park in front of the cafe for lunch. “So, we’re dealing with construction pretty well.”

The cafe is also starting an outdoor grill service to attract construction workers and others on campus for a quick lunch. The cafe will serve “picnic-style” food, such as brats, during lunch hours Thursdays and Fridays outside of the art museum. The full menu will still be available inside, Schenider said.

Archives Coffee will remain open throughout construction this summer, owner Kyle Thorson said. The coffee shop was closed for about a week as more kitchen equipment was brought in, but Thorson said everything is up and running for summer break.

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“We’re going to start doing our own sandwiches and salads,” he said, in addition to other bakery and pastry items.

The shop has reduced hours during the summer and is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Although construction goes directly in front of Archives, Thorson said the shop plans to stay open throughout the season. The shop can be accessed from Sixth Avenue North and Harvard Street. Larson said the university hopes there will always be some sort of pedestrian crossing near Harvard Street throughout construction, which is slated to wrap up by mid-August.

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The North Dakota Museum of Art will be serving grill food throughout the summer as a way to get people to stay on campus during construction. (Photo by Sydney Mook / Grand Forks Herald)

Sydney Mook has been the news editor at the Post Bulletin since June 2023. In her role she edits and assigns stories and helps reporters develop their work for readers.

Mook was previously with the Grand Forks Herald from May 2018 to June 2023. She served as the Herald's managing editor, as well as the higher education reporter.

For story pitches contact her at smook@postbulletin.com or call her at 507-285-7771.

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