After months of renovations over the summer, Longwood University Dining Services officially opened the newly renovated Dorrill Dining Hall, commonly called D-Hall by Longwood community members, on August 25, 2025. The new dining hall features a fully refreshed dining area and main entrance — hosting new seating, changing the locations of some features and opening the area where staff swipes Lancer Cards.
According to Kate Guillot, a marketing associate with Aramark, those designing the renovations looked to improve both accessibility at D-Hall and the overall experience for students eating there. “For accessibility,” she said, “the pans and counter layout allow access with less reaching for those who use mobility aids, and we’ve increased the amount of food offered at True Balance for those with allergies or intolerances.”
As for the general experience at D-Hall, Guillot said those who designed the renovation kept openness in mind. She said, “We opened the floor plan and changed the position of beverages and other offerings. We considered how students move throughout the dining hall to configure the layout.”
Seating design was another major change to the dining hall. “We now offer many different groupings,” Guillot said. “There’s the soft seating that provides a lounge-like atmosphere. The table arrangement now accommodates large groups as well as individuals. Booths offer a traditional restaurant experience, and we’ve added 3 community tables with high top seating.
Furthermore, there are still cosmetic upgrades that are in the works. “In the lobby, and in the dining area, several murals that feature resident life and key features of campus are planned. There is new lighting to be added to the lobby, as well as a blue divider with the Longwood University seal,” said Guillot.
One part of D-Hall which remains the same is the presence of Betty Pelletier, lovingly referred to as “Ms. Betty” by Longwood students. A Longwood staff member for 12 years, Pelletier grew accustomed to the old D-Hall, but said she greatly appreciates the new upgrades
“From what I've seen I think the students are really comfortable with the renovations, and they like it,” Pelletier said. “You know, there's more space in there, and it's more organized. I've only [heard] good responses from them. Everyone seems to like it a lot.”
Before the renovation, Dining Services sought student opinion while designing the new common areas. Staff tabled outside the entrance to the main dining area with soft seating options displayed in the lobby, and students could provide feedback on what they preferred.
One student, Audrey Bricker, gave a positive review of the renovations. “It’s very modernized,” she said. “The new chairs are nice, its very open concept compared to how it was last year. I felt like it was very dark and closed off.”
