What will change for you – and why the renovation is an important step for the Mensa
Over the coming months, the dishwashing line at the Mensa Gießberg will be renovated. For you, the main change will be at dish return: instead of the usual return conveyor, temporary dish return stations will be set up. Please place your used dishes there after eating.
The renovation work is starting now, a bit ahead of the somewhat quieter summer months, so that it can be completed by the end of October, ideally in time for the start of the winter semester. Our food selection will remain largely available during the construction phase. So you can continue to look forward to the usual lunch options at our Mensa Gießberg.
What will happen during the construction phase
During the renovation, all dishes will have to be washed using a replacement machine in the smaller dishwashing kitchen behind Al StuDente on level K5.
What you will mainly notice is that our team will have to transport full and empty roll containers from the Mensa down one floor and back again to the clearing stations. Especially at peak times, this is a major logistical effort.
You can help us a great deal by keeping the way clear for our staff when they are moving the roll containers, so that everything can run as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Why now?
At first glance, this may sound like “just replacing a bit of equipment”, but for us it is actually a major project – and one we would have liked to tackle earlier. The dishwashing line is one of the most important behind-the-scenes areas of the Mensa. Without it, quite literally, nothing runs.
Our Mensa kitchen at Gießberg turned 18 this year. That means the dishwashing line is now 18 years old as well. The fact that it has remained in reliable use for so long is also thanks to our technical team, who keep making sure in the background that everything continues to work. But at some point, repairs alone are no longer enough. A failure of the dishwashing line would be a real worst-case scenario for Mensa operations. That is exactly what we want to prevent with this renovation.
After all, every tray, plate, bowl and piece of cutlery you use here has to be returned to circulation in a hygienically flawless condition. And this does not happen just once a day: on a normal Mensa day, dishes are washed several times, issued again and reused. If the dishwashing line breaks down, we would soon run out of clean plates, bowls and cutlery. Put simply, we would no longer be able to serve food.
A new dishwashing line is not simply a larger dishwasher. It involves complex technology, long planning periods, many different trades, a renovation while operations continue – and, of course, always a little potential for Murphy’s Law. Not least, it is also a million-euro investment. For us, this is a major step towards being able to run the Mensa Gießberg reliably for you in the long term. We are therefore very pleased that this extensive project can now be implemented with the support of everyone involved.
What the new dishwashing line will bring
The new system will offer several advantages: it will make operations more secure, relieve the strain on our staff through better ergonomics and is expected to use significantly less energy and water than the current technology. This makes it not only a technical upgrade, but also an important step towards more sustainable and reliable Mensa operations.
Thank you for your support
Our aim is for you to notice as little as possible of the temporary arrangements. Behind the scenes, a great deal will be moved, carried, organised and renovated over the next few months. But for you, everyday life at the Mensa should continue as normally as possible.
Thank you very much for your understanding, your patience and your support during the renovation phase. We will keep you updated.
