Dining Pavilion Receives
National Innovation Award

It's been called a bubble, tent and sprung structure. It's only temporary, but now it's officially a winner. University of Cincinnati's Dining Pavilion has won the Innovative Achievement in Auxiliary Services Award, given by the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS).

Steve Sayers, assistant vice president for Campus Services, accepted the award in New Orleans Nov. 6. It recognizes UC's innovations in creating the Dining Pavilion, a temporary structure during MainStreet construction and renovation of the student union. The award honors innovations that may serve as models for other institutions.

Since the pavilion opened in March 2001, dining sales have increased, despite a 64 percent drop in seating capacity compared to the closed student union. Food service provider Aramark has achieved a 9 percent reduction in labor costs and an 8 percent drop in food costs. And to top it all off, after the MainStreet construction is complete in two and a half years when the Dining Pavilion is no longer needed, the university can resell it for 60 percent of its current value.

The award adds to the winning tradition in the Administrative Services division at UC. This summer, Administrative Services' Department of Facilities Management also won the top institutional honor awarded by the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers (AHEFO). The Award for Excellence in Facilities Management was presented to James Tucker, associate vice president for Administrative Services, and Don Connley, director of maintenance and operations for Facilities Management.