Renovations have been proposed and are underway for two student-run businesses, Rooster’s Coffeehouse and Oliver’s Pub respectively.
The 2012-13 Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) operating budget allocated $200,000 for the Rooster’s renovation, CUSA vice-president (finance) Folarin Odunayo said.
The renovations include making the cash counters lower and more accessible, a new paint job, and new furniture, he said.
For Oliver’s, $36,000 has been proposed for pub-style booths and televisions to be added to the back, according to the 2013-14 CUSA budget proposal.
The renovation is expected to be completed before Sept. 1 and won’t affect Oliver’s operations, Odunayo said.
The pub is a money-maker for the student organization, with a $1 million revenue last year, one of the highest in Oliver’s history, according to Odunayo.
The renovations to Rooster’s have been delayed while other campus construction projects are being finished, CUSA president Alexander Golovko said.
The design plans have been approved by Carleton’s facilities engineering and construction department, a mandatory step for construction projects on campus, assistant vice-president (facilities management and planning) Darryl Boyce said.
“In a nutshell, all projects have to go through our group and be approved before they can start,” he said. “CUSA does not have to use our workers, but they do need to use our oversight group.”
CUSA approached the administration with plans to renovate in July 2013, but were told they need to come back with design plans for the project—something facilities management and planning do not offer, Boyce said.
“CUSA came in with concepts to renovate Rooster’s during a very busy time. The engineering required design services that we do not offer in-house,” he said.
Golovko said the renovations will likely begin this winter break, one of the two reading weeks, or next summer.
The coffeehouse would close during construction.
“[Construction] would happen during a quiet time on campus,” Golovko said. “We want to welcome students to Carleton and not disrupt their experience on campus.”
Second-year journalism student Nathan Bragg, who uses a wheelchair, said he finds Rooster’s current design “quite accessible.”
“However, the counters do need work done, as I couldn’t get my head over them and often had a challenging time reaching the debit/credit card machine or placing my money on the counter,” he said.
Odunayo said Haven Books, another CUSA business, is also due for an accessibility renovation.
He said the project to renovate the entrance to the bookstore will begin when appropriate funds are found.
