“Delusional physics”, cost… In Paris, the Crous construction site worries as much as it irritates elected officials and local residents

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“I ask questions. You have to know how to ask questions,” reasons the mayor of the 6th arrondissement of Paris, Jean-Pierre Lecoq (LR). Since his photo published on X on October 27, 2024, the elected official hopes to mobilize attention in order to review the site plans from the Jean-Sarrailh center, located in the neighboring 5th arrondissement. This multi-purpose building, which houses administrative services, a sports center, a restaurant and a university residence, has been under construction since 2022. “ The Crous construction site is at a standstillor at least it moves at the speed of a snail,” laments Jean-Pierre Lecoq.

Monday, November 4, the 5th arrondissement council voted to ask the City of Paris “ clarification of the situation » from the Crous. This audit request would make it possible to “monitor the progress of the work and the financial statement“, specifies Édouard Civel, deputy in charge of urban ecology and universities. “The council as well as all the residents of the district have the right to be enlightened on this subject,” underlined the mayor, Florence Berthout (Horizons), that same evening.

“Limited satisfaction”

L'Épaurif, in charge of the work on the site, refutes any paralysis of the site. “The work continues in particular with the installation of a surfacewhich will ensure the thermal insulation of the building,” specifies the agency specializing in university development in Île-de-France. And to add: “The installation of the spandrels [éléments colorés] is in progress and will be followed by the installation of the 'second skin' on these elements. It will be composed of adjustable slats, which will ensure the thermal performance of the rehabilitation and partially mask the colored sills. The work which is also continuing inside the building are not visible from the road. »

This “second skin” poses a problem for the town halls of the 5th and 6th arrondissements. Jean-Pierre Lecoq denounces a “delirious physiognomy”, which “gives the impression that everything is permitted”. Édouard Civel tempers: “It’s a bit of a complicated question. The residents have limited satisfaction of the facade. »

A rising cost

He also denounces the extended deadlines for the project, the first phase of which was delivered in July 2024. several months late. Failure and withdrawal from a businesstechnical difficulties that could not have been anticipated and delays in the supply of certain materials are cited by Épaurif. The company recalls carrying out this project, the cost of which has passed from 22 million to more than 34 million euros HT, “in a logistical context still disrupted by the health crisis”.

As a reminder, the work is financed by the City of Paris, the Crous and the State via the Ministry of Higher Education and the France Recovery Plan.

According to workers interviewed by the Parisianwork is not expected to resume until “January 2025”.

The town hall of the 5th arrondissement, for its part, organizesa neighborhood council, on November 28, where “all those involved in the construction site are invited,” specifies Édouard Civel. … The objective: to see more clearly in a construction site which navigates between questions about aesthetics, the additional financial cost and the vagueness of the schedule.

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