Triolet Campus: a forecourt named "Alexander Grothendieck (1928-2014)"
One of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century and winner 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 redesigned plaza at the entrance to the Triolet campus of the University of Montpellier after him. This marks a return to the tradition of honoring Montpellier academics who have made a significant contribution to their discipline in public spaces.
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 Medal winner (2010), inaugurated the "Alexander Grothendieck (1928-2014)" plaza, which was completely redesigned by Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, in the presence of Jean-Michel Marin, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Daniele Di Pietro, Director of the Alexander Grothendieck Institute in Montpellier, and numerous representatives of the university community.
This new public space development, which provides direct access to the main entrance of Montpellier University's Triolet campus, has made it possible to reduce the area's imperviousness with the creation of large green islands that will be planted with vegetation in the fall. It gives priority to active modes of transport such as walking and cycling to connect the university to the "Universités des Sciences et Lettres" tram stop on line 1, the CROUS restaurant, and student residences. The surface is made of exposed aggregate concrete, and a hydraulic protection basin has been created under the square. The work, financed by Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole as part of the Opération Campus program, cost €1,850,000.