For nearly 100 years, South Dining Hall has been a hallmark of Notre Dame’s campus. The dining hall, known for its iconic Gothic architecture, will see changes over the next two years as it undergoes an extensive construction project. The exterior of the building has been undergoing a restoration throughout the spring. Renovation of the interior will begin after commencement.
South Dining Hall was designed in 1927 by Ralph Adams Cram, a renowned American architect. Cram designed several major churches and is known for his Gothic Revival style.
In an email to The Observer, University architect Doug Marsh wrote that South Dining Hall is among the campus’s most treasured buildings because of its two day-lit grand halls.
Marsh, who helped with the 1999 renovation of South Dining Hall, will retire May 30.
Marsh said the 1999 renovation of South Dining Hall was one of the first projects he led after joining the University’s facilities team in 1995. Marsh is also Notre Dame’s vice president for facilities, design and operations.
Mindy Bowling, a service lead for South Dining Hall, said that the dining hall will remain open during the school year. As a service lead, Bowling manages the dining hall’s staff and operations.
Bowling said that only North Dining Hall will be open during the summer, but South will be open during the 2025-26 school year.
She added that next year, South Dining Hall will only be open to students with a meal plan. This means that post-football game candlelit dinners will not be open to the public during the construction.
“Normally we have tons of guests that come in and people that are here for the game [and] for the majestic dining hall experience on top of it,” Bowling said. “In the upcoming years during everything it’s going to be only … students with a plan, and that’s it.”
Bowling added that while construction plans are currently being finalized, they have a plan for the location of different facilities. Food preparation areas will move to the basement, and the dining hall will still have “grab and go” service.
Since the dining hall has been open for nearly a century, Bowling said she feels the renovations are necessary. She added that some of the equipment is outdated and needs updates to keep up with current technology.
Marsh shared that the renovations will keep many of South Dining Hall’s iconic features. The project will retain the building’s historical elements and involve the restoration of the hall’s two dining rooms. The furniture that is original to the building will also remain.
“The two flanking halls are wonderfully proportioned spaces that are simply appealing,” Marsh wrote. “And the oak tables and chairs, most of which are original to the building, are perfect accessories to the space. The two great halls and their furniture will be refreshed but remain intact.”
The kitchens, however, will be modernized.
“This next renovation will include a new prep kitchen in the lower level, a more efficient work flow for the culinary team, and a much larger space for students and guests to select their preferred cuisine and see it finished in front of them,” Marsh wrote.
The University’s statement on the construction also said that an entrance will be added to the south side of the building. New, more energy-efficient electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems will also be added.