Triolet Campus: a plaza named “Alexander Grothendieck (1928–2014)”
One of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century and a recipient of the Fields Medal in 1966, Alexander Grothendieck (1928–2014)studied and taught in Montpellier. The City of Montpellier is honoring his memory by naming the renovated plaza at the entrance to the Triolet campus of the University of Montpellier after him. This marks a return to the tradition of honoring, in public spaces, Montpellier academics who have made a significant mark on their disciplines.
On Wednesday, May 16, 2024, Michaël Delafosse, President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole and Mayor of Montpellier, Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier, and Cédric Villani, Fields Medalist (2010), officially opened the “Alexander Grothendieck (1928–2014)” plaza, which was completely renovated by Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, in the presence of Jean-Michel Marin, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences; Daniele Di Pietro, Director of the Montpellier Alexander Grothendieck Institute; and numerous representatives of the academic community.
This new redesign of the public space, which provides direct access to the main entrance of the University of Montpellier’s Triolet campus, has helped make the area more permeable through the creation of large green islands that will be planted with vegetation starting this fall. It prioritizes active modes of travel—walking and cycling—to connect the university to the “Universités des Sciences et Lettres” tram stop on Line 1, the CROUS restaurant, and the student housing. The pavement is made of exposed aggregate concrete, and a stormwater retention basin has been created beneath the plaza. The work, funded by Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole as part of the Opération Campus initiative, cost €1,850,000.