A year ago, one of the big buzzes on the University of Hartford campus was the newly renovated University Commons dining hall.
This year — although not quite as big, but still significant — the talk around campus is the newly transformed Starbucks at The Goodwin Café in Mortensen Library.
Previously, the Dorothy Goodwin Café was more of a Starbucks Express as it served Starbucks drinks, but did not offer a full menu. Now it is a full-fledged Starbucks service that has offered more job opportunities, more space and more electrical outlets.
The previous Goodwin Café shut down earlier this year on May 13 for construction and the renovations to begin.
Starbucks was officially opened this past Monday, Aug. 31 at 9 a.m.
In the weeks leading up to the opening, the staff was trained and had practice as several trial runs were done during the past week and during the LiftOff orientation weekend.
Look familiar? Rennovations continue in @Mortensen_Lib as Dorothy Goodwin Cafe transforms into a full Starbucks #TBT pic.twitter.com/23seye8hJs
— The Informer (@UHartInformer) July 17, 2015
Another campus renovation that was completed over the summer was the Microgrid Project.
It was announced in July 2013 that the University of Hartford was one of nine schools that received organizations and municipalities in the state of Connecticut that received funding as a part of the state’s plan to better prepare for destructive storms.
With the project now completed, the Village apartments, Regents Park, Park River and Konover are connected to the main campus electrical loop and thus, giving those buildings access to the emergency generators if the campus loses power.
Construction began in Nov. 2014 and resumed in the spring earlier this year.
Other summer projects include new brick walkways in the Harry Jack Gray Center area, office and room renovations in the Fuller Music Center and the construction of the Helen S Kaman Print Study Center in the Hartford Art School.
The Helen S Kaman Print Study Center was announced earlier this year in March with a $300,000 grant from The Charles H. Kaman Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Construction work is scheduled to be finished by Labor Day, but the center won’t officially open until Feb. 2016.