UMD’s production kitchen gets $25M facelift

DULUTH, Minn. — UMD finished its $25 million overhaul of the college’s main production kitchen.

The kitchen was originally built in 1971 to serve 800 students, but today, it serves 9,000, and that meant it was more than time for a major upgrade. After years of planning and nearly two years of construction, a new, state-of-the-art kitchen is now cooking up food. The equipment is as modern as it gets with an expanded bakery, grab-and-go spaces, and upgraded refrigeration and storage. UMD says the kitchen is safer, more efficient, and sustainable.

“I am so excited for us to move into this next phase of our development,” said Betsy Helgesen, senior director of UMD campus retail. “We’re at a great place to offer really amazing food and to do it in a really thoughtful and intentional way.”

The new facility will set the stage for feeding hungry college students for decades to come.

A ribbon cutting will take place on Thursday, Jan. 15, in the Kirby Student Center.