A library of 35 million euros ... which is useless

A site for the less chaotic. In Seine-et-Marne, the university library-Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée is lighted, heated ... but still closed to the public. Blame it on several construction defects.

72 listed construction defects

The reasons for this are manifold flop. Sealing problems, impractical stairs, lack of ventilation in the elevator ... In all, no fewer than 72 construction defects were identified by a design engineer who handles - full-time and three years - to meet all these defects. "The upper flight of the main staircase might not stand the test of users," explains the Parisian Frédéric Moret, the university vice president. Unique solution: build the staircase by pillars! Reassuring.

The money from the state is sometimes literally down the drain. Last October, Le Figaro reported the story of the empty building of 12,000 square meters in Rouen, supposed to accommodate administrative services for over a year and a half ... Problem: the move was eventually suspended due to reform territorial, according to the prefecture of Seine-Maritime ... but the state still pays rent of 100,000 euros per month for a building that therefore useless. An unnecessary and annoying expense, especially in a context of budgetary restrictions.

The future University Library Is Paris-Marne-la-Vallée is another example. It is "probably the high environmental quality building (HQE), which will have consumed more energy before they have saved in" Le Parisian wrote in his column. Why? Going back in March 2009, date when the site begins, with delivery expected in January 2011. Since then ... nothing, and the university has just sue the architects to the Administrative Court of Melun.

For the past two years, the building of about 9000 square meters is however heated and lighted, to prevent the building from deteriorating. A building that has cost 35 million euros, and has yet to benefit anyone. On its side, the architectural firm Beckmann N'Thépé, designer places, ensures that it is the legal expertise that has "blocked all" and that he was ready, for its part, to repair. The question is the cost that will create dozens of these imperfections.

The worst: the library was nominated in 2012 at the Architecture Prize of the silver bracket. An idyllic description stated: "its thick walls ensure inertia, vegetated roof terraces contribute to the thermal insulation, the operation of pools is natural - the water filter is provided by floating plants and carp."