CMU FOOD CENTRE: a new style of food center for university students
1 June 2021
Corporate Communication and Alumni Relations Center (CCARC)
As food and hygiene form an important part of students’ well-being, Chiang Mai University has constructed a new food centre at the heart of the University consisting of a variety of popular restaurants. Located near student dormitories, this large, WiFi-covered food centre can accommodate thousands of visitors, and it can also serve as a co-working space where students meet, study and work in a pleasant atmosphere surrounded by greeneries. It is a perfect fit for students’ lifestyles in every way.
The idea of CMU’s President, Clinical Prof. Niwes Nanthachit, MD, is to build a food center that offers quality and healthy food at an affordable price to students, staff, and the general public under CMU’s Food Safety scheme. The two-story building is spacious and aesthetically pleasing. Outside are benches surrounded by teak and the inside is air-conditioned and can be used as a safety zone in the event of unhealthy air quality. In terms of food, the University has selected vendors that meet the requirement in terms of quality, hygiene, and affordability. In terms of inspection, the Food Safety Committee, with representatives from several faculties, has been appointed. At the Food Centre, clean water produced by reverse osmosis is provided and visitors can bring their bottles for refill. Instead of using ice from other sources, the ice used by the vendors is produced using the purified water to reduce the contamination risk. Also, the Food Centre has well-designed systems of garbage and food waste disposal and dishwashing to ensure consistent hygiene. Students can easily travel to this new meeting space via CMU electric shuttle buses which stop at dormitories and important locations. Furthermore, in the time of the pandemic, an infrared thermometer is installed at the entrance/exit, and registration is required before entry to ensure safety for all.
In the future, the open space in front of the Food Centre will be used as a shared space for hosting events and exhibitions. So, we are delighted to announce that the CMU Food Centre is now open to all from 7 am to 7 pm during weekdays and 8 am to 3 pm during weekends.