Some University of Memphis architecture majors are dreaming of a better dining area for students in the center of campus.
The architecture department created a contest where any architecture student could submit an idea for the redesign of the Tiger Den, and a total of 14 students were divided into four teams.
The Tiger Den currently offers a cafeteria, Subway and Steak ’n Shake. The architecture students looked to restructure and improve the cafeteria area of the Tiger Den.Â
Darrell Ray, vice president of student affairs, said the goal of the contest is “to give students a practical experience.â€
“This is a concept project,†Ray said. “It will be utilized to direct us on how we can make some short-term modifications and refresh the space to enhance the dining experience for our students.â€
The goal of the project is for the university to increase sales in meal plans and to have people want to be in the Tiger Den, said Kelsey van Zyl, senior architecture student and one of the students who turned in a design.
“Right now it’s kind of a dead space,†van Zyl said. “No one really wants to hang out in there. People go to the University Center to do that kind of stuff.â€
Students in the competition surveyed other students about why they may not purchase meal plans, and students said it was because of the lack of food options the U of M offers. Also, students living on campus use the Tiger Den for many of their meals.
Van Zyl said her group wanted to get more traffic into the Tiger Den by creating a space that was more than a place to sit down, eat and leave. She said they wanted people to come and hang out in the space if they wanted to as well.Â
Van Zyl said her group created an outdoor eating space. Indoors, they wanted to create areas for specific uses.
“[We designed] specific spaces for people that want to come in and eat and not hang out,†van Zyl said. “We have places that were more for hanging out.â€
Her group also created a room where people could organize events like a karaoke night, van Zyl said.Â
The designs did not include changes in the current food options. However, the organizers of the contest hope more people would be attracted to eat there, so they could get more food options in the area, van Zyl said. Â
Most architecture contestants wanted to create a “communal spot†with their designs for renovations of the Tiger Den.Â
“We wanted to make it feel like it belonged on campus,†van Zyl said. “We wanted there to be features from the UC that stood out.â€
The contest will be judged by architecture alumni Friday morning. The panel will also include student leaders and administrators, architecture professor Jeanne Myers said. Van Zyl said she was told newly-elected SGA President Kevyanna Rawls would be a member on the panel.
All students will be able to vote next week. An email will be sent to students, and voting will be open April 23-26.
Students enjoy lunch with friends in between classes in the Tiger Den.Â
