The two buildings have been designed with space for teaching and dedicated space for research and administrative services.
Vinci described the tribunal’s decision as “surprising and unprecedented”. It centres on a ruling to classify some administrative and research areas as accessible to the public and therefore subject to different fire safety standards. Access to these areas is limited and monitored by a badge system, it pointed out.
Many of the university and public and private sector buildings that are classified as public buildings are built and operated according to the principle that the same building can be used for distinct purposes, said Vinci.
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Vinci asserts that the buildings were constructed in accordance with the university's programme, in close partnership with the university administration and in compliance with the regulations and practice applying to university buildings. The building permits were issued by the Regional Prefecture on 28 April 2010.
Vinci said that it has complied with all the requirements, as verified by the safety commission prior to the opening of the facility to students at the start of the 2012 school year.
It intends to appeal the decision, in order to obtain transparency and recognition that compliance with the contractual and regulatory provisions has been its consistent course of action. “Vinci is of course available to work with the State authorities to examine the measures that will enable the university to continue to operate and ensure continuity of public service for the benefit of the students, researchers and staff of the University of Paris VII (Diderot),” it said.
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