Proctor is in the early stages of planning a new dining facility. The current dining hall, which occupies the south end of Farrell Field House, was originally assumed to be a temporary site following the loss of the Cary House dining facility to fire in April, 1977.

Over the years, however, the current Cannon Dining Hall received both cosmetic and structural improvements, including a mezzanine dining level and (twice) reconfigured entrance. Over these same years, however, the student and adult population of the community grew by approximately 30%. The need for a new, more spacious facility has been agreed upon for years.

The key, of course, is funding, and a dining facility is an expensive undertaking! To enable a successful capital fund-raising drive, the school has hired Maclay Architects of Waitsfield, Vermont to create conceptual renderings and plans for consideration and future refinement.

Known for energy efficient, environmentally responsible designs, Maclay is currently considering a stand-alone facility of approximately 18,000 square feet situated immediately to the south of the existing dining hall with a seating capacity of 350 to 400. They favor a two-story structure with a classic New England look and feel, with views to the south toward Proctor Ski Area and to the east toward the center of campus and the pond area. The interior will likely feature interactive food serving stations at which diners can custom order meals at grill and stir-fry stations, a pizza oven, deli bar, etc.

The prospect of the new dining facility has enabled the school to consider related master planning issues for the west end of campus, including parking, student pathways, open space and green area, drainage, and the interaction between athletics, nutrition, and dining.

Timing? The project is currently in the schematic design phase, which is anticipated for completion early this summer. Beyond that, a construction calendar will have to wait for the successful completion of the fund-raising initiative.