Chiang Mai University has defended the controversial decision to demolish the historic Ang Kaew Dormitory, saying structural assessments revealed safety concerns, while stressing its historical value will be preserved.
The university was responding on Saturday to calls from architects to reconsider demolishing the dorm, which opened six decades ago at the country’s first regional university.
The building is regarded as a prime example of a bold, progressive milestone in the country’s architectural history. It was designed by the late brutalist and modernist architect Amorn Srivongse, with engineering led by the late Arun Chaiseri, known as the father of modern structural engineering in Thailand.
