Iona University Unveils New Dining Hall and Student Union Experience
Coming Spring 2025!
New Rochelle, N.Y. – Continuing to elevate the student experience for both residential and commuter students alike, Iona University today unveiled exciting new plans to transform the LaPenta Student Union and enhance its on-campus dining. Spanning two floors and roughly 20,000 square feet, the project is set to begin May 2024 and come to completion Spring 2025.
The renovation builds upon the vision of President Seamus Carey, Ph.D., to create spaces that connect, unify and ignite the Iona community. Setting that idea into motion with the opening of the 30,000-square-foot Murphy Green in May 2022, the new project expands that focus into the adjoining student union, further strengthening the heart of Iona’s 45-acre main campus.
“We’ve seen the impact the Murphy Green has had on student life and on campus life as a whole. This is going to expand upon that vibrancy at the center of campus and continue the momentum we’ve generated,” Carey said. “I believe learning should happen all the time, not just while students are in a classroom. That’s why we want to create the spaces where students can come together with each other and with faculty and staff to continue the learning process throughout the day. Students need those spaces to perform at their highest levels.”
ELEVATED DINING
Working in close partnership with Chartwells Higher Education, Iona’s food service provider, and the architecture firm SLAM, which also designed the Murphy Green, Iona is setting out to transform the LaPenta Student Union into a modern, open-concept space that is inviting for the entire Gael community.
The 14,000-square-foot dining facilities, located on the first floor, will feature stunning views of the Murphy Green, Mazzella Field and the LaPenta School of Business. Maximizing natural light with large windows and pull-out doors that open onto outdoor patios, the design also incorporates LEDs and low-carbon-footprint materials for greater energy efficiency.
Campus food favorites such as the deli, wood-fired pizzas and pastas, freshly baked breads, grilled classics, comfort foods and popular international stations featuring ramen, soba, sushi, Mexican cuisine and more will all get upgrades in the new space. Freshly chopped salads, vegan and vegetarian selections, high-protein smoothies, gluten-free options and other healthy non-GMO snacks will also be widely available and clearly labeled.
The project also focuses on technology upgrades and expands made-to-order food preparation, which not only allows students to see their meals being made directly in front of them, but also minimizes food waste. New touchscreen kiosks will be added throughout and mobile ordering will expand in keeping with fast-casual industry trends to limit lines and wait times.
Tyrone Ellen, Chartwells regional vice president, northeast division, said the team conducts surveys each spring to gather feedback on student preferences and top food choices. They also look more broadly at food trends in the industry when developing new menu options; for instance, ramen and soba have become extremely popular, and so the team added a noodle station in January. The team also lives by the mantra that food fuels the mind, body and soul; as such, they aim to educate students on healthy food choices.
“Sometimes students are coming to us and making these decisions for the first time on their own,” said Angela Greene-Hicks, Chartwells regional marketing director.
“We have a lot of passion for what we do,” added Jeffrey Sepot, Chartwells general manager at Iona. “The chefs are very passionate about the food they prepare and I’m very passionate about the students I take care of. We take care of them as if they are guests in our own home.”
Throughout the renovation, students will still have access to the full array of options in Vitanza Commons, Iona’s main dining hall. This will include popular food stations currently in the LaPenta Student Union that will move to Vitanza during the renovation. The campus Starbucks will remain open throughout the renovation with uninterrupted service.
MODERN SPACES
In addition, the renovation also features a 6,000-square-foot lounge and meeting area on the ground floor. This will include multipurpose rooms for student clubs and leadership organizations, a stunning gas fireplace, several flat-screen televisions and versatile seating that can be configured in various arrangements. The lounge area will have a strong connection to Starbucks, providing additional overflow seating.
As student clubs and leadership organizations continue to grow, Iona is committed to providing the open and inviting spaces that are needed to enhance the student experience. For commuter students, meanwhile, the renovation will dramatically enhance their ability to thrive comfortably throughout the day, whether that be studying between classes, engaging in leadership activities or staying late to socialize with friends. At the same time, as more students live on campus in residential housing, the project will create even more ways for students to feel at home.
“On a campus the size of Iona, we want to make sure that we can keep that human energy alive by creating exciting spaces where students want to engage on campus,” said Kevin Herrick, managing principal and higher ed national market leader at SLAM. “You will see more people getting there a little earlier, opening their laptops, hanging out and being around their peers.”
“We are looking to create those opportunities for students to make those connections,” added Rick Herzer, design managing principal at SLAM. “For the success of a university, anything you can do to help that is really at the heart of it. Like President Carey turning a parking lot into a green space with the Murphy Green – it’s just been amazing and I fully expect the same will happen here as students rally around the center of campus.”
Offices and meeting spaces located on the second floor of the LaPenta Student Union will remain open and accessible throughout the renovation. Spaces on the ground floor will move to enhanced new homes or temporary spaces during the construction. Burke Lounge, meanwhile, will be upgraded with comfortable lounge seating, tables and chairs to accommodate the need for extra gathering spaces. For more detailed information, please visit the project FAQ.
#1 STUDENT EXPERIENCE IN N.Y.
The Wall Street Journal recently ranked Iona as the #66 Best College in America, including #1 for student experience in New York and the #8 best Catholic college in the nation. Iona also tied Yale as the #4 most recommended college in the Northeast by students. In addition, The Princeton Review included Iona in its 2024 “Best 389 Colleges” nationwide, reflecting the positive experiences and outcomes students reported to the publication.
As the momentum continues to rise on campus, Iona is growing new student enrollment and expanding opportunities for students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. This includes over 80 student clubs and leadership organizations spanning an array of interests, as well as 23 Division I varsity teams, 13 club sports teams, a thriving performing arts program and immersive community service opportunities both locally and around the world.
“The dining hall renovation is something Iona students are eagerly anticipating,” said Shakinah Silverberg, president of the Student Government Association. “They are so excited to have a larger space to enjoy the wonderful dining options offered as well as a space to cultivate friendships and relax, all while enjoying the amazing view of the Murphy Green.”
Learn more about the project and view additional renderings at iona.edu/dininghall!
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2024 national list of “The Best 389 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.