Foy Hall will remain operational during the fall semester despite ongoing renovations, according to Jim Carroll, Auburn University architect.
Construction on the east plaza should finish by the beginning of the fall semester.
However, renovations to the west plaza will not conclude until January 2015, according to Carroll.
"The [eastern plaza] renovation is an effort to connect Ross Square and Foy Hall," Carroll said. "The western courtyard is in demolition stage right now."
Renovations to the western courtyard will remove bricks and add more green space.
"A lot of people complained about the courtyard before," said Carroll, "It was a bit of a tired space."
Chicken Salad Chick will open with an outside dining area in the new courtyard when renovations finish. Chicken Salad Chick was announced as a new restaurant coming to campus last February.
"I like the idea of the chicken salad restaurant," said Jonathan Land, a recent graduate of Auburn in history. "There definitely needs to be more seating outside."
Auburn alumna Stacy Brown started the restaurant in Auburn, and now has more than 60 restaurants in the Southeast, according to the company's website.
"I know a lot of students are looking forward to a new place to eat," said Sam Hickman, senior in media studies.
Foy Hall will operate as normal for students, including the food court, this fall.
Access will only be restricted to areas under construction in the western courtyard, according to Carroll.
"I've seen the plans and I think it's ok," Hickman said. "They're re-landscaping and have some of the entrances closed, so it's inconvenient."
Along with the food court, Foy Hall houses several student-oriented services including the Veterans Resource Center, First Year Experience Offices and International Education.
Funds for the construction for the $2.2 million renovation of the western courtyard came from Auxiliary Services working through Student Affairs.
According to Carroll, the east plaza's $150,000 construction cost came through a deferred fund tied to the maintenance of Ross Square.
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