In response to complaints that the cementstructures might detract from the overallappearance of the nineteenth century building,which was recently named one of Boston's top 10architectural examples, Riley said: "If you wantto feed 1600 people three times a day, you need tobring the goods in."

Downstairs in the Loker Commons, however, thebuilding's historical character wasn't as great aconcern. While the Great Hall already featuredstained glass windows and frescoed ceilings, thearea that will soon be Loker Commons is currentlyequal parts machinery, concrete and dirt.

Venturi said he appreciates the contrastbetween the restored upstairs and the radicallyrenovated downstairs.

"We are getting our kicks [in the basement] notfrom fancy architectural surfaces," Venturi said,"but from sophisticated lighting and [electronicdisplay] boards."

"So there will be a real contrast between thedownstairs and upstairs, the new and the old,"Venturi added.

The project's coordinators all say they agreethat it is essential for the Loker Commons to beversatile. Riley says he believes that the commonswill contain a pizza counter, a mexican foodcounter, a sweet shop, a selfcontained cafe, anewsstand, and something he calls "electronicservices."

"[Electronic services]," Riley said, "willinclude fax services, e-mail services, perhapscopying machines. There's going to be an ATMmachine on-site."

The commons will be divided by a "street," asRiley calls it. This walkway will provide accessto food counters on the left and huge booths onthe right and will terminate at a massiveelectronic display.

Director of Planning Philip Parsons called theseven by ten foot color display "an artisticevent."

"It's not a bulletin board," Parsons said."It's a decorative element. We hope there will bea lot of student involvement in using this as aform of artistic expression."

"I think it's a place where students will feelat home," Venturi said.

A double set of steps at the west end ofMemorial Hall will provide primary student accessto the commons.

While the excavations for the steps are visiblefrom outside Memorial Hall, work also continuesbeneath Sanders Theater.

There, a new "green room" has been built, whereperformers can wait before they go on stage.Sanders, the largest auditorium in the Yard,boasts no such facility now. Improved meetingrooms and bathrooms have also been constructed.

So concerned are the project's leaders withmaintaining the building's history that the marbleused in the counter of the men's room was salvagedfrom the walls of the old women's room, Rileysaid.

Beneath the stage, which has been extended sixfeet into the former seating area, a new pianolift has been added. It will be able to hoist agrand piano directly from the basement to thestage.

Working beneath Sanders Theater has posed someproblems for the workers, however. Riley recountsinstances when the $24.5 million project washalted during lectures for "quiet time.