Hillside Café recently underwent an extensive remodeling, the first in 20 years, aimed at modernizing the aging dining hall with new colors and furniture.

The update opened up space, bringing more light in, said WSU Dining Services Director Jason Butcherite. It also added darker colors to the once 1970s-style interior and new ceiling lights.

Another new addition to the area is greenery, including a green wall on the far side of the building.

“What [we] wanted to bring was kind of some outdoor elements inside, that’s why we have that green wall,” said Butcherite. “That was kind of our vision, pretty neutral color pallets, softer colors and to brighten up the space.”

New soda machines were the last to be installed, with drinks now being complementary with meals.

“We shared that in an RA presentation and the crowd erupted,” Butcherite said.

Hillside was under the microscope last year, with Housing and Dining Services planning and designing the renovation all year.

The actual execution came over the summer as construction workers rushed to finish the renovation.

“Everything was very close, like we’re doing this, then we’re doing this, then we’re doing this because we have to do it before everyone gets back,” Butcherite said. “Literally last week, the last piece of the puzzle was adding the new beverage cabinet.”

Hillside will also have new hours, open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., now closing a half hour earlier. Southside will now be open until 8 p.m.

The next dining hall to be renovated is Southside Café. The planning for the project has been in the works for several years and will be executed in phases, Butcherite said.

“The early phases of the project will focus on upstairs, and not a lot of work downstairs in the market,” he said. “There’ll be some new stations and a majority of the work that’s happening upstairs doesn’t affect the kitchen production area. That area will kind of stay intact.”

Construction could begin as early as May of next year.