By Colter Hettich, Student Reporter
After an almost two-month delay, ACU will dedicate the new food court Friday to ACU alumni and vice president emeritus Bill Hilton.
The food court replaced the Hilton Room but will keep the name in honor of Bill Hilton.
Hilton, who graduated from ACU in 1948 and joined the faculty in 1950, has given ACU 57 years of service, and the food court’s delay has been purposeful.
“The timing of the dedication has more to do with our ability to get everyone scheduled than anything else,” said Kevin Watson, associate vice president for Administrative Services, in response to the delay.
Some saw the dedication as a last-minute curveball from the administration, pushing back the opening celebrations from the beginning of September to mid-October, said Anthony Williams, director of Retail and Purchasing.
The Hilton Food Court is only part of phase one of the McGlothlin Campus Center project. Phase one includes four other major changes in the Campus Center: a “TV Wall” with two 52-inch televisions, an accent wall across from the women’s restroom, a fully equipped technology desk and a graphic ACU timeline on the walls of the post office.
After seven control groups, 423 PDA questionnaires and 3,300 online surveys, Williams is confident students will be pleased.
“I think this is a very comprehensive initiative,” Williams said.
Phase One, which will cost an estimated $1.35 million, will be completed by the beginning of spring 2008 at the latest. Phase two, which includes all Bean renovations, will cost an estimated $3.5 million. Though optimistic, Williams does expect hurdles.
“This is an evolving process,” he said. “We want to be elastic enough in our model that we can adapt to different changes.”
Committees are still getting bids from different contractors, but the entire project will cost an estimated $4.85 million.
“We’re going to be ready and operational before school starts next August,” Williams said.
Williams said, the ACU community has every reason to set its expectations high.
“We are very, very serious and very, very committed to making sure the things we do are premier,” Williams said.
“When the dining area is finished I think it will rival any restaurant in the city of Abilene.”
