Kilcawley Center Renovation | Information and Resources

The Kilcawley Center renovation will take place in phases. The University is committed to meeting the needs of the campus community during all phases. Each phase will be detailed and updated here to ensure communication and limit disruption of campus services.  

Spring of 2025

• Relocation of IT Help Desk to Maag Library (Room 406C)
• Relocation of Accessibility Services to DeBartolo Hall, 3^rd Floor (Room 357)
• Renovation of the temporary Card Office in Beeghly Center lobby
• Renovation of basement of Silvestri Hall for temporary office of Graphic Services, Student Activities, Penguin Productions, and Student Government

May 6, 2025 through May 11, 2026

• The following areas will be closed:
  • The Cove
  • Snack and Chill
  • KC Food Court, Dunkin’, Jamba Juice, Pete’s Treats, Wendy’s
  • All meeting spaces in Kilcawley Center

• The following areas will be moves to temporary locations:
  • Student Activities and Student Government Offices (moving to Silvestri Hall basement)
  • Kilcawley Center Staff Office relocated to Jones Room and Training Room
  • Guest Services/Card Office moves to Beeghly Center lobby
  • Pop Up Dining, convenience store, and soft seating will be available in the Chestnut Room.
  • Rookery Radio and Jambar offices moves to Bliss Hall
  • Dining provider office moves to Cochran Room
  • Student Center set up crew moves to locations in Silvestri, Beeghly, and new location in Kilcawley Center

• The following areas will remain open:
  • Chick-fil-A
  • Catering kitchen
  • Vending machines near Chick-fil-A
  • Resch Academic Success Center

• Additional Food Options Across Campus
• SUMMER 2025
  • Chic-fil-a
  • Christman Dining Commons
  • Cushwa Cafe
  • Dunkin' Kiosk in Kilcawley Center Chestnut Room
  • Mobile Food Trailer (June 2)
  • Relocation of vending machines in high traffic areas across campus
• Fall 2025
  • Chic-fil-a
  • Christman Dining Commons
  • Cushwa Cafe
  • Food Lockers
  • Maag Cafe
  • Schwebel Cafe
  • Temporary Dining Commons in Chestnut Room, Kilcawley Center
  • Vending Machines

Summer of 2026  

• Chick-fil-A closes
• Catering kitchen relocated to Christman Dining Commons
• Loading dock renovation begins
• Temporary Chestnut Room Food Services close
• Temporary relocation of Resch Academic Success Center
• Kilcawley Staff Office relocates between Beeghly Center and Silvestri Hall
• Dining provider office moves to new location
• ServePro office moves to new location

Fall of 2026

• New food court opens
• Catering kitchen re-opens

Fall of 2027  

• Grand Opening of new center

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For the health and safety of the campus community, refer to this page for updates on construction.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Dining options on campus will be shown here as changes are made during the renovation.

Dining options on campus will be shown here as changes are made during the renovation.

Youngstown State University has selected AVI Fresh as its new partner for campus culinary and hospitality services effective May 5. With their company headquarters located in Warren, Ohio, only 16 miles from the YSU campus, AVI is the largest privately held and family-owned-and-operated food and hospitality services provider in the United States. YSU is excited to partner with a local company that not only embraces its mission and vision, but one that is also fully committed to serving the Mahoning Valley community. Beginning this Summer, the partnership will embark upon an exciting and transformative campus dining experience through innovative and fresh culinary options, enhanced convenience and a commitment to local and sustainable practices for students, faculty, staff and visitors.

AVI Fresh, a division of AVI Foodsystems, serves nearly 50 college and university dining programs with a fresh culinary and family approach. Founded in Warren, Ohio in 1960 by John Payiavlas, AVI Foodsystems is America's largest, family-owned and operated food and hospitality services provider in the country. AVI has grown into a dynamic company, revolutionizing the food and hospitality services industry while serving business, education, healthcare, leisure and entertainment sites across America. Today, following in his father’s footsteps, Anthony Payiavlas, President and CEO, along with his three sons, John, Constantine and Alexander, continue to lead the company which now provides services to more than 9,500 client locations in 49 states.

The AVI Fresh culinary program is designed to align with YSU’s vision to provide an exceptional campus experience for all members of the YSU community including resident and commuting students, faculty, staff and visitors. Key highlights of this partnership include a variety of new dining concepts, state-of-the-art technology and enhanced dining and convenience options across campus.

New Dining Options Coming to Campus from AVI Fresh:

• Satellite Retail Café in Cushwa Hall, Williamson Hall, and Maag Library will include an espresso bar featuring locally sourced, craft roasted coffees from Nova Coffee Co., a small, family-owned business in historic downtown Warren. AVI is excited to partner with Nova owner, John Ramsey, to support local businesses in the Mahoning Valley.  In addition, fresh-to-go meals and an array of snack and cold beverage options will be offered in these cafes.  Grubhub integrated food lockers are temperature-controlled, secure and individual lockers that will allow diners to pick up meals ordered from other campus retail restaurants at a location convenient for them!
• A new self-service convenience market at the Meshel Hall Bridge as well as Grubhub integrated food lockers for added service and convenience.
• While the Kilcawley Student Center is under renovation, a temporary food court will feature new concepts including Top & Toast Flatbreads, Be Bowl’d and Stack’d. A new Dunkin’ kiosk will ensure Dunkin’ continues to serve the campus while the Student Center is under construction. Outside of Kilcawley, a YSU-branded mobile kitchen, Smoke & Fire, will serve as a unique dining destination. Additionally, Chick-fil-A will remain open in its current location for the 2025-26 academic year.
• An exciting array of signature dining concepts at Christman Dining Commons including house-roasted deli selections at The Carvery, plant-based cuisines at Roots, allergen-free selections at Clarity and Peak Performance featured items focusing on athletic performance-based menu offerings. Other options will include classic meals, house-made pizzas, salads and grains, all-day breakfast and more!
• In Fall 2026, the excitement builds with the completion of a brand-new Student Center food court located in the Kilcawley Student Center. Within the new food court, AVI will introduce an expanded lineup of dining options including a global deli at Atlas Café; noodles, rice, acai, protein and other bowls at Be Bowl’d; wood stone pizzas, house-smoked meats and vegetables and classic and contemporary global grill offerings at Smoke & Fire. Chick-fil-A and Dunkin’ round out the food court in their brand-new locations.
• In Fall 2026, AVI will open a state-of-the-art convenience store featuring Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology allowing 24/7 self-service shopping convenience.

AVI Fresh, a division of AVI Foodsystems, serves nearly 50 college and university dining programs with a fresh culinary and family approach.  Founded in Warren, Ohio in 1960 by John Payiavlas, AVI Foodsystems is America's largest, family-owned and operated food and hospitality services provider in the country.  AVI has grown into a dynamic company, revolutionizing the food and hospitality services industry while serving business, education, healthcare, leisure and entertainment sites across America.  Today, following in his father’s footsteps, Anthony Payiavlas, President and CEO, along with his three sons, John, Constantine and Alexander, continue to lead the company which now provides services to more than 9,500 client locations in 49 states.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

DINING FAQ

The map below shows the construction zones (in yellow and orange) that you will find on campus during Phase 1 of the renovation of Kilcawley Center (May 2025 through Summer of 2026). Those areas will be within fences. 

The Kilcawley Chestnut Room will be open through summer and fall for dining, as will the Kilcawley Chick-fil-A. You can enter Chick-fil-A via the street entrance to the north side of the building, or through the breezeway. Enter the Chestnut Room via the East doors near the fountain. 

Campus wayfinding, delivery information, and all logistical information related to the renovation will be updated here as it develops. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The following offices have been or will be relocated for the duration of the Kilcawley Center Renovation. This page will be updated as the renovation continues. 

MOVED IN SPRING OF 2025

MOVING EARLY MAY OF 2025

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Joy Polkabla Byers
Associate Vice President, Student Experience | (330) 941 - 2242 | jlbyers@ysu.edu

John Young
Executive Director, Auxiliary Services | (330) 941 - 7438 | jlyoung02@ysu.edu

Kathy Leeper
Associate Director, Kilcawley Center Student Union | (330) 941-3565 | klleeper@ysu.edu

Christy Cameron
Student Experience Business Manager | (330) 941-3581 | cjcameron@ysu.edu

Caleb Queen
Assistant Director Operations and Events Services | (330)-941-2329 | mcqueen@ysu.edu

Erin Urbaniak
Coordinator, Card Office and Operational Technology | (330)-941-1726 | emurbaniak@ysu.edu

Stacy Rubinic
Coordinator, Graphic Services | (330) 941-3560 | sgrubinic@ysu.edu

Ken Borowicz
Layout/Graphic Artist | (330) 941-3548 | kmborowicz@ysu.edu

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS