Roche Dining Commons renovations complete

By Kyla Smulski

Roche Dining Commons underwent a major renovation over the summer while students enjoyed summer break.  

The main food area has been completely transformed with a modern, sleek design that enhances functionality and aesthetics. From a fresh coat of paint to a more open layout, the space now feels brighter, cleaner, and more inviting for students to enjoy their meals and socialize.  

This renovation was made with student input. Over the last year students were involved in the planning process, providing insights and recommendations to ensure the upgrades met the needs of students and staff.  

Senior Erin Stevenson said that student input was important.  

 “I remember at the end of last year, students had the option to test out options for new chairs for the Commons. I really appreciated that student feedback was being valued,” she said.  

The new set up in Commons B, with its booth-style seating, has been especially popular among students. 

"I do like that there are more comfy seating options, it's more interactive,” Sean Sinclair, a senior at Stonehill, said.  Commons A kept its original layout but received a seating upgrade, providing different seating options to accommodate different preferences.  

A popular upgrade is the expanded salad bar, which has been redesigned into a modern oval shape. This design allows students to walk all the way around the salad bar, making it faster, easier, and more accessible for everyone.  

“The salad bar being moved outside the seating area is much better, it makes the area much less crowded, and there are way more options because of the bigger space,” Mathew Bower, a junior at Stonehill, said.