Konover Campus Center Renovation

UHart Will Transform the Konover Campus Center With a $2.8M Renovation

The University of Hartford’s reimagined Konover Campus Center will feature spacious indoor and outdoor dining areas, a large brick pizza oven, spaces for social gathering, and more—a $2.8 million investment that will transform the residential side of campus.

New renderings of the project show a soaring, rustic-themed indoor dining room with high ceilings, wooden beams, and brickwork, leading to an outdoor patio overlooking a picturesque pondside gathering spot. The contemporary dining spot, known as “The Nest,” will have space for nearly 300 students and will be centered around Connecticut’s best comfort foods, curated by a chef with input from current students. The Nest is a modernized version of the University’s current Hawk’s Nest dining facility, which will be transformed into a centrally located residential market.

The Nest’s design renderings come from a former student, Vincent Dadamo M’24, an architectural intern at design partner Amara Associates. He says his experience at UHart allowed him to bring a student’s-eye view to the project: “What would they want that space to be? When you finish class, what makes you want to go there and grab a meal in this great space?”

“Renovating the Konover Campus Center represents a powerful investment in our students and in the vibrant campus life that defines our university." says University of Hartford president, Lawrence P. Ward. "This reimagined space will transform the residential side of campus and serve as a dynamic hub where students can study, socialize, and build lasting connections—ultimately enriching their experience and strengthening our community.” 

Partners at Aramark Dining have been actively crowd testing new menu items for The Nest through a series of pop-ups and station takeovers designed to showcase signature dishes and gather student feedback. Ongoing menu development includes continued work on a new pizza concept, smash-burger takeovers at Commons using Nest-specific ingredients, and the debut of future recipes througout the semester.

Far more than a simple dining spot, the renderings show Konover refashioned into a space for social gathering and a center of campus life. The outdoor patio and pond area will not only support casual al fresco dining but also serve as a venue for more formal events, including live music featuring student artists. A new outdoor fountain will be prominently featured.

For Dadamo, working on the design was a full-circle moment. “Just to be a force in the vision of it has been incredible,” he says.

The renovation is scheduled to be completed in summer 2026. While the work proceeds, UHart has also purchased a new and impressive mobile food kitchen that will be unveiled at Midnight Breakfast. The mobile kitchen provides students with UHart’s own version of a food truck, serving ever-changing and flexible cuisine options across many areas of campus, including student events, performances, and athletic events.

The Konover project is just one of many significant investments the University has made in its physical infrastructure over the past few years. From a new track and field to a revitalized area along Park River, UHart is relentlessly committed to providing students with intentional, accessible, and inspiring spaces that foster community and belonging on campus. 

An Inside Look at The Nest

For Media Inquiries

Matt Besterman
860.768.4937
besterman@hartford.edu 

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All renderings are subject to change as the project progresses.