Walk into the newly renovated Dining Center at Ford Hall and enter a space where a vision for the future is inspired by a view from the past. 

“The new dining center is beautiful. This updated space will embody a timeless elegance that brings together the community in a way that is meaningful,” said Rochelle Hargraves, Mercersburg’s chief financial and operating officer. “Hopefully our students, faculty, and staff feel that we care for them in the way we take care of their living and eating spaces.”

While family-style meals will remain the centerpiece of the school’s dining tradition, the renovation allows for expanded programming. 

Student Life leaders anticipate activities with a coffeehouse atmosphere featuring café-style events and open mic nights, supported by an upgraded sound system and adjustable ambient lighting.

“There’s definitely an energy and excitement of using it more than just at meal times,” said Andy Brown, dean of students for community life. 

The culinary experience has also been upgraded. A new pizza oven is a showpiece of the dining area. Beyond pizza, the oven will produce baked ziti, calzones, and open-faced sandwiches.

The new design specifically addresses traffic flow.

“We will have two salad lines on either side of the dining center, as opposed to one in the center,” Hargraves said. “Circulation for serving stations is expanded so our students and adults will have more places to get the food they want, and we can do more station-type setup. Allergen and gluten-free aspects are going to improve greatly.”

Operational changes extend to the cleanup process. A new accumulator conveyor belt system will transport dishes to the back of the house, streamlining the work for student servers.

Outside, two new pavilions flank the front entrance.

“Not only will this be a place for the students to put their backpacks while they’re eating,” said John Richardson, Mercersburg’s chief advancement officer, “but it will also create a space where we can have outdoor events that will provide shade from the sun and cover from the rain.”

General contractor Wolshen Construction facilitated the renovation plan. 

“They have been a wonderful general contractor partner,” Hargraves said, noting that the project finished on time and significantly under budget. The final cost was $11 million following a $12 million projection. “The center looks amazing, so no shortcuts were taken.”

The transition required significant adaptability. Since the renovation began last summer, FLIK Independent School Dining employees have worked out of mobile kitchen trailers, while meals were served in Hale Field House.

“It is not an ideal situation, so they are to be commended for being able to deliver the product during our transition time in the temporary dining space,” Hargraves said.

Because the renovation includes new dining furniture, the school donated 650 items to local organizations, schools, and interested employees.

“Ultimately, 38 organizations and individuals are slated to pick up furniture. This is only the first round of items to be reused within the community,” said Will Willis, director of environmental initiatives and science faculty member. “It is exciting to see these pieces put to good use, rather than filling the landfill.”

Other items might be available, once FLIK determines what won’t be needed in the new space.

To gauge the success of the new dining center, the school will review responses on internal surveys, and plans additional assessment measures.

“There are key performance indicators now in place to measure the quality, variety, safety, and quantity of food,” Hargraves said. “This is really what drove us to find a new dining service vendor and place the renovation of the new dining room at the top of the priority list, because we know that food is community.”

Ford Hall, which originally opened in the spring of 1965, has not seen significant changes in 60 years.

“If you think about our important spaces and what community means to us, it was time for our dining space to have the care and attention that it needed,” Richardson said. “It’s key for us to have an updated place where our community comes together.”

From graduates of 60 years ago to those who walked the platform in 2025, the center will stir memories for those coming back to attend Reunion Weekend June 5 to 7 or Homecoming and Family Weekend September 25 to 27, Richardson said.

A formal dedication, which will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and donor recognition, is planned in May. The renovation was made possible through the generosity of Mercersburg’s alumni, parents, and friends.

“It shows the investment of our community and the interest people have in giving to projects that support the student experience at Mercersburg,” Richardson said. “This renovation allows us to continue providing the best food service we can for our current students.”