Hedrick dining hall will be closed until dinner on Thursday while construction crews install a new roof as part of renovation efforts on the Hill.
To avoid safety and sanitation problems from construction, no guests will be allowed in the building, said Daryl Ansel, food and beverage director for UCLA Housing and Hospitality Dining Services.
The roof construction was planned for the winter holiday break, but work was delayed because of heavy rain. UCLA Housing tried to find the slowest days in the quarter where they could fit in the roof construction, Ansel said.
“Hedrick is our slowest dining hall, with about 350 to 500 people for lunch and 600 to 700 people for dinner,” he said.
Ansel could not provide numbers for the other dining halls.
In the meantime, staff at the other dining halls on the Hill have been increased to accommodate larger numbers of students.
Since Hedrick closed, Ansel said he has noticed that the crowds in the other halls during dining periods have not been too concentrated. He said he hopes the trend will continue until Hedrick reopens.
Jennifer Brown, a first-year undeclared student who lives in Sproul Hall, said she noticed an increase in Covel dining traffic yesterday.
“It’s usually pretty crowded, but it was nearly impossible to find a seat (yesterday),” Brown said.
Brown added that she was not aware Hedrick was closed, and does not go there often unless there is something of interest on the menu.
“I’m a bit scared to go to dinner in the dining halls now,” Brown said, laughing. “Maybe tonight I’ll wait until it’s past prime eating hours.”
Matthew Lee, a first-year biology student who lives in Rieber Vista, said he was disappointed when he heard Hedrick would be closing for a couple of days.
“I like Hedrick because it’s usually not very crowded,” Lee said. “But I’m happy that a new roof is being put in, and I guess I’ll have to squeeze in to De Neve or Covel for the next few meals.”