Extensive Lair Upgrades Scheduled to Begin April 27

As part of LMU's transition to an All-You-Care-to-Eat (AYCTE) dining model, the Lair will undergo a major renovation during summer 2026, to allow LMU Hospitality to introduce new menu options, enhanced service styles, and improve the overall dining experience for students. To support an ambitious construction timeline, the Lair, along with Qdoba and Provisions on Demand Malone, will close during the final two and a half weeks of the spring 2026 semester, beginning April 26.

During this period, breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served in a large dining tent on Alumni Mall. Meals will follow the all-you-care-to-eat format offering students an early preview of the future AYCTE dining experience with a single door price rather than individual à la carte purchases. To-go containers will be available for students who need meals on the move.

Food trucks accepting meal plan dollars will be stationed nearby, providing additional dining variety and a late-night dining option in place of Qdoba.

Nutritional information for meals served in the temporary dining tent will be accessible via QR codes directing students to the menus on the LMU Hospitality Website. Campus Dietician Charlotte Hargrove will be on-site to answer questions and will proactively connect with students she currently supports or who have shared specific dietary needs.

For summer food service operations, Roski Dining Hall will serve as the main dining facility for summer conferences and camps.

Preview of the New Facility

When the renovated Lair reopens at the end of the summer, students will find a space designed to support a more flexible and community-oriented dining experience.

The main entrance will return to its original location in the Malone hallway from the early 2000s, when LMU last offered an All-You-Care-to-Eat dining model. Students will tap their OneCards to enter using a meal swipe, while community members will pay a door rate.

Inside the space, new skylights will bring additional natural light into the dining area, along with updated colors and design elements inspired by student feedback collected last year.

Outdoor Patio

A portion of the Malone Patio along Palm Walk will become dedicated seating for the Lair. Because AYCTE dining requires a secure perimeter, this patio expansion ensures that students can enjoy the outdoor dining experience that is such a hallmark of LMU's campus life.

You can catch a sneak peek of the renderings below:

Additional information will be shared in the coming months, as construction progresses. In the meantime, students can review the upcoming 2026-27 meal plan tiers and read associated FAQs at the LMU Hospitality website.