A crowd of ISU employees and partners of the facility’s renovation project gathered Tuesday to celebrate the grand opening of Conversations.

The occasion was marked by speeches from ISU Dining Director Nancy Levandowski, President Geoffroy and Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Hill. Each praised the new facility and its focus on healthy dining and noted the importance that the project has to the university.

“We have now three great dining venues on campus, for students,” Geoffroy said. “Each one has its own unique character and flavor and distinctive differences, which is important because it gives students a range of options and choices. Facilities like this help recruit students to Iowa State and also helps contribute to student success.”

Individuals involved with Conversations’ renovation received thanks from those with the original vision of the new facility, architects, construction workers, kitchen and dining staff, marketing team and returning Oak-Elm students who stayed in their dorms through the renovation process last year.

“[The renovation process] really doesn’t happen with one person, but it happens for all people,” Levandowski said.

Hill praised the efforts of Levandowski and her staff in renovating the dining facilities across campus and gearing the facilities toward students.

The fact Conversations provides healthy and tasty food and is open continuously from morning to night means students can utilize its services whenever they need to. In this way, it’s especially responsive to student needs, which is what the university is about, Hill said.

“Residence dining provides a place of connection and community for our students, both qualities of campus life that help them succeed in their college careers,” Hill said.