But with CSG manager Andy Allan's continued commitment to working with Mayer and his consultants, the underground kitchen has become one of the tightest and happiest units, this year winning the highly coveted "Harvard Hero" award.
"What they did was remarkable turn around," Mayer says.
But at what cost?
Allan has spent many hours at CSG.
"I have worked like a dog. I don't get out much. This is my baby. When you have an infant, that's all that matters," Allan says.
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Eliot and Kirkland Houses, which faced staff shortages and high stress in the months following their renovations, have also settled into a more comfortable routine.
"I think the initiatives we have begun are now solidifying," Mayer says.