With the closing of Hoofdgebouw, which will be renovated over the next few years, an important campus junction was lost. Before, many students and staff walked from MetaForum to Auditorium via Hoofdgebouw or vice versa. “That route is now gone”, says Martine de Graaff of Facility Services. And it’s noticeable in the Auditorium, even during the day, she says: “Many students go elsewhere for lunch”.

De evening meal service was affected most by the dwindling number of customers, however. In the end, only half of their customer base was left. Eurest decided to move to Gemini-Zuid, as it’s located strategically between the crowded buildings MetaForum and Flux. “And the kitchen we have at our disposal there can actually handle the extra service”, says De Graaff. The Gemini pilot started last week; their cafeteria closes at seven p.m.

There’s a minor disadvantage, according to De Graaf: the main entrance of Gemini-Zuid closes an hour earlier, at the same time the reception desk wraps up for the day. After that, the cafeteria can be accessed only via the walkways from neighboring MetaForum and Flux.