More than 100 people attended the ceremonies, including Dahlonega and Lumpkin County officials, state officials, representatives of the planning and construction firms, university officials, students and alumni.
University President Bonita C. Jacobs thanked those who made the project possible and spoke of the strengthening of the already close bond between North Georgia and the Dahlonega community.
"This building serves as both a physical and symbolic bridge between the university and the community," Dr. Jacobs said at the bookstore ceremony. "Because of the proximity of our campus to downtown, what happens to one of us impacts the other. This makes the relationship between the university and the community vitally important and we will continue to seek opportunities for collaborative efforts that enhance the community and contribute to its economic development."
The $9 million, three-story Chestatee Building, located at 110 S. Chestatee St., houses the Campus Connection bookstore, a Starbucks, and other university offices and services. The bookstore, coffee shop and Student Health Services have opened in the new site; admissions and other offices will be relocating to the building later this month.
A second ceremony was held for the new dining hall, located at the corner of West Main Street and Sunset Drive. The new $16.2 million facility has an expansive outdoor terrace and glass front overlooking the university's drill field. The new building can seat twice as many diners as the former facility. The dining hall has two student dining rooms with a total seating capacity of 1,000 and separate banquet seating for more than 200.
President Bonita C. Jacobs waits in line with Tony Aeck, left, to eat lunch in the university's new dining hall after Thursday's dedication ceremony. Aeck is one of the principals in the architecture firm of Lord, Aeck & Sargent, which designed both
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