Terry Doyle (in red shirt) and Gary Doyle (gray shirt) installed the new kitchen cabinets this week. Gargoyle photos by Katherine Allen (click to enlarge)

URBANA — Thanks to donations of equipment and hard work from the father and uncle of junior Jared Doyle, the Uni kitchen is getting a new and improved look. Renovations began this week.

"We have an all-new cupboard space and a new stove," explained Assistant Director Sue Kovacs. "We also have a refrigerator that's on the way out because we now have three refrigerators that are in here."

Jared's father, Terry Doyle, and his uncle, Gary Doyle, took out the old cabinets and installed the new ones. Terry owns and manages apartments and helps out at Habitat for Humanity, while Gary works as a contractor in St. Louis.

Terry supplied the cupboards, stove, and two refrigerators. He and his brother supplied the manpower to take out the old fixtures and install the new.

In an interview with the Gargoyle, Terry said he donated the stove about two months ago; however, it was not installed until just before the cabinets were put in. Terry said he decided to donate the new cabinets because the old ones were more than 30 years old.

A few changes remain to be made to the kitchen, including painting the background behind the cupboards, adding a panel to the side of the stove, and replacing the tile floor.

The panel will be added before winter break, Kovacs said, but the tile floor in the kitchen will be replaced and the walls painted during break.

Kovacs said the renovated kitchen "will be fully able to take care of the students."

She also asked Student Council to "authorize the money to buy some plastic boxes so people can put their supplies in them instead of the cupboards, so that they stay neater and it will be cleaner and more healthy." StudCo turned down the request at today's meeting.

Kovacs also noted that the kitchen work "is the first step in the changes that are being made through Christmas."

Other changes include painting the main office and retiling some of the offices on the north and south sides of the building. Those changes — as well as the retiling of the kitchen floor — are being paid for by the school and are separate from the Doyle donations.

Gary Doyle (left) and Terry Doyle work on the kitchen renovations. Gargoyle photo by Katherine Allen (click to enlarge)

Another view of the refurbished Uni kitchen. More renovations are on the way. Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to enlarge)