How Sodexo Kept Dining Operations Running During Lehigh University's Summer Dining Hall Renovation

Bethlehem, PA - While summer often provides colleges and universities an opportunity to complete major facility upgrades, those projects rarely pause dining operations. This year, the Sodexo team at Lehigh University is demonstrating how strategic planning, operational expertise and collaboration can keep thousands of guests well-fed while the university's primary dining hall undergoes a significant infrastructure renovation.

As Lehigh's main dining hall remains closed throughout the summer for a new HVAC installation, Sodexo transformed the second floor of the University Center, normally home to retail dining venues, into a temporary all-you-care-to-eat dining facility serving camps, conference guests and other summer visitors.

Subscribe

Creating the temporary operation required extensive planning by Sodexo's dining team. Staff installed additional cooking equipment, reconfigured service areas, expanded dish-return capacity and nearly doubled seating to accommodate the increased volume. The result is a dining space capable of serving more than 2,000 guests each week while maintaining the quality and hospitality expected on campus.

Behind the scenes, Sodexo team members redesigned workflows, relocated equipment and coordinated closely with university partners to ensure uninterrupted service throughout the renovation. According to Joe Kornafel, director of residential dining, the project required flexibility, teamwork and constant communication as employees adapted to an entirely new operating environment.

"The most important lesson learned is that successful relocations depend on thorough planning, continuous communication, and maintaining operational continuity while adapting to a new environment," said Joe Kornafel. He credited Sodexo's team members for their commitment, flexibility and professionalism throughout the transition.

As summer operations continue, Sodexo is already preparing for the next phase of the project: returning the University Center to its original configuration and reopening the renovated dining hall ahead of the academic year. The effort highlights Sodexo's ability to adapt complex campus dining operations while delivering a seamless experience for students, campers, conference guests and the broader university community.

This is a paid advertorial piece contributed by a Patch Community Partner, a local brand partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch. To learn more, click here.