Sixteen lecture theatres in the scientific city have been closed after traces of asbestos were detected in the air treatment plants. An emergency works plan has been initiated.
A disrupted return to school for thousands of students at the University of Lille. After the detection of traces of asbestos in the air treatment plants, 16 lecture halls at the Villeneuve-d’Ascq science city were closed in July.
Two months later, the buildings are still inaccessible, with emergency works having been launched. Students are therefore having to take their courses at other university sites.
“I got lost on the Pont de Bois campus, because I didn’t know it at all. I had to go around the whole campus to find the building’s opening, it was a bit complicated,” says one student. While another adds: “It’s a bit weird, especially since we were notified late.”
Reopening of four amphitheaters in 2025
Traces of asbestos detected before the holidays led to the closure of almost half of the amphitheaters.
“In June, as part of our preventive maintenance measures, we discovered traces of asbestos in the air handling units of the oldest lecture halls in the science city, those in the historic buildings,” explains the president of the University of Lille, Régis Bordet.
He details the action plan that was put in place. “The first thing we did was to ensure that there had been no exposure. From this point of view, we are fully reassured. Nevertheless, the precautionary principle made me take the decision to close the 16 amphitheaters affected by these asbestos residues,” he indicates.
The University of Lille hopes to reopen four of the 16 closed lecture halls in 2025.
Julie Michel and Solenne Bertrand
