UB to Open Newly Renovated Ellicott Food Court

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Division of Student Affairs and the Faculty Student Association at the University at Buffalo this semester will open the newly renovated Ellicott Food Court in the new atrium in the center of the Ellicott Complex on the North (Amherst) Campus.

A key aspect of the extensive renovation-and-expansion project is the "village square" concept that will create a central focus for Ellicott residents, says Dennis S. Black, UB vice president for student affairs.

The $5 million makeover of the vital hub area of Ellicott, a residential complex built in 1974, responds to what today's students are asking for, said Black.

The new Ellicott Food Court will offer a variety of stations, such as "Salsa" (food with a Mexican flair), "Wrap It Up" (wraps and bagel sandwiches made to order), "Sizzles" (new grill area) and "Greens & Beans" (self-serve soup and salad bar). Hubie's, the long-time pizza-and-wings spot in Ellicott, has been moved to a more central location.

The centerpiece of the project is the new, two-story glass atrium. In addition to serving as a dining area, it has been envisioned as a site where students can hold meetings, listen to a folk singer or hold social events, Black says. A Seattle-style coffeehouse and a 1,600-square-foot patio overlooking Marshall Court and Lake LaSalle will be added later in the Spring semester.

Along with the expansion and improvements to the dining operations, the complex's convenience store and the campus shuttle-bus waiting area were updated, and both are only steps away from the new food court. The project also includes ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) upgrades to the lavatories and entranceways.

The project was designed by the Rochester firm of Pospula Associates. The lead architect for the project, Penny Haley, is a UB graduate and former resident of Ellicott.

Work was financed by bonds sold through the Amherst Industrial Development Agency.