The transformative renovation of the Mabee Commons at Southwestern University continues to turn heads. The National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) has honored Pirate Dining with a Silver Award in the Renovation of the Year category of their prestigious Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards.

Hosted annually by NACUFS, the Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards are the ultimate professional tribute in college and university culinary arts. Named after NACUFS founder Loyal E. Horton, the awards celebrate innovative ideas and successful implementation of programs across small, medium, and large educational institutions around the United States.

Scoring for the Renovation of the Year awards is based on the successful planning, marketing, and launch of a space, as well as the collaboration between the groups involved in the project.

“We knew that we had a winner because of the way that the process was handled from the beginning,” Pirate Dining Senior Marketing Manager Debbie Walton said. “We had a lot of input and feedback from students and University administration. The student groups and leadership here at Southwestern were extremely involved in the entire process.”

Influenced by student and staff feedback, the new Mabee Commons features an open-concept kitchen that leads into an expansive dining area. New state-of-the-art equipment includes an impressive brick oven, where specialty pizzas are created using dough proofed in-house, and a revamped sauté station with enhanced displays and made-to-order personalized dishes.

The breakfast bar has also undergone an expansion, offering a variety of choices including waffles, cereals, and a constant flow of freshly brewed coffee. The dessert section, previously tucked away, is now displayed upfront, offering an array of sweet treats.

“The work that was done during the renovation really means a lot,” Pirate Dining Chef Daniel Miller II said. “With the new equipment, we can serve even better food. Without this equipment, we would not be able to elevate the food offerings as much as we have. Plus the modern look is really exciting.”

As part of the transformation, branded graphics now adorn nearly every wall of the Mabee Commons. Tradition and innovation coexist through imagery showcasing moments throughout Southwestern’s rich history and special bond with the city of Georgetown.

As the main restaurant destination on campus, the Mabee Commons serves not only students, faculty, and staff at Southwestern University, but is also open to the surrounding Georgetown community during the academic year. The location serves several hundred meals each day from August to May.

Demolition of the facility’s previous interior began just after the completion of the Spring semester in 2023. Work took place around the clock that allowed the Mabee Commons to reopen for the Fall semester.

“It was less than 90 days from demolition to completion,” Pirate Dining General Manager Greg Hensley said. “We shut the doors in May then were operational for orientation when the first students came back in early August. We were fully operational by the first day of move-in. It was a miracle.”

The renovation process could not have been complete without collaboration across several different University departments and outside organizations. Southwestern President Laura Skandera Trombley, Vice President for Finance and Administration Lenora Chapman, Vice President for Student Life Brit Katz, Facilities Management Project Manager Michael Ming, Marketing and Communications Senior Creative Director Matt Madsen, and their respective teams, worked alongside Aramark Collegiate Hospitality District Manager Cory Bourg to oversee the renovation.

Tipton Associates, led by designer and architect Darrin Badon, served as the architecture firm on the project while SpawGlass was hired as the general contractor.

This recognition marks the fourth major award for Pirate Dining since the organization arrived on campus in 2022. Last year, two Pirate Dining employees, Sheri Clayton and Ella Sedwick, each earned “Foodservice Hero” awards from Food Service Director Magazine. The same publication bestowed national acclaim upon Chef Miller in April, as his “Black & Blue” sandwich earned “Best Beefy Sandwich” honors.

“It’s going to require us to build an awards wall,” Walton said. “We have four very impressive awards that we can brag about. We are going to build on this award and keep the good momentum going.”

View the improvements and read more about the Mabee Commons’ expansive transformation by clicking here.