Closed for security reasons in 2007, following recommendations by the departmental security commission, Caen University’s emblematic Pierre Daure amphitheatre, located within the historic campus, will soon be re-opening its doors to the public. After a 4 million Euro “facelift”.

A budget of 4 million Euros | Pierre Daure (1892-1966): the director of education who became Préfet |

A budget of 4 million Euros
The total cost of 4 million Euros has been jointly supported by the State, within the framework of the State-Region Contract Plan (2,310,000 Euros), the Lower Normandy Regional Council (600,000 Euros), the University of Caen (520,000 Euros), targeted State subsidies (470,000 Euros) and the Caen Town Council (100,000 Euros).

Pierre Daure (1892-1966): the director of education who became Préfet
A former student at the École Normale Supérieure in Rue d’Ulm in Paris, Pierre Daure was first in his university year in 1913. He was called up during the Great War with the grade of Capitaine d’État-major (Staff Captain) . After the war, he devoted his thesis to the study of light diffusion in gaseous environments. He was among a number of physicists specialising in optics, along with Raman and Alfred Kastler. In 1930, the scientist was offered a position as Professor at the University of Bordeaux where Alfred Kastler joined him as his assistant. Pierre Daure was then appointed Director of Education at the University of Caen in 1937, before being dismissed in 1941 for political reasons upon the request of Pierre Pucheu, then Minister for the Interior under Vichy. In 1944, he was named Préfet of the department of Calvados, the first in France to be liberated. He resumed his role as Director of Education in 1948 and was a driving force in the work to rebuild the University which began the same year, to be concluded only in 1957.

At last. The mythical Pierre Daure amphitheatre at Caen University’s Campus 1, is due to re-open. After a period of renovation in order to ensure that the venue conforms to new security standards applicable to buildings intended for public use, this illustrious university site is now ready for a new lease of life. As from September, the amphitheatre will be welcoming cultural events, lectures and conferences. The verdict landed in 2005. The Pierre Daure amphitheatre was condemned to closure. Broken-down and inflammable chairs, dilapidated coverings, poor access for disabled students, inadequate smoke ejection system. A disquieting series of flaws noted by the Calvados Departmental Fire and Security Service during the security commission inspection. Pierre Daure consequently closed its doors in 2007 for renovation. A special licence, however, enabled the UCBN to continue to make use of the site over the two-year period. Work began in October 2008. And desperate ills call for desperate remedies. “We entirely stripped the amphitheatre,” stresses Laurence Burlan, the University’s property manager and the operation’s contracting authority. Absolutely everything has been replaced. The ceiling is the only remaining original feature. Nicolas Huet, from Billard Durand et Associés in Hérouville-Saint-Clair, is the architect behind the renovation; he explains, “It was vital that we preserve the atmosphere of this emblematic university amphitheatre. So we decided to keep the original structure. As for the rest: flooring, seating and woodwork, everything has been replaced. La Fraternelles, a Lisieux-based company, installed the oak panels.” Ceiling work was limited to cleaning and a fresh coat of paint. And in order to improve acoustics, screen walls and partitions developed by Laudescher, a Carentan-based company specialising in solid wood systems for acoustic insulation, were installed. “The amphitheatre will offer exceptional acoustics,” guarantees the architect.

A 30 tonne structure to house the air treatment system

The Pierre Daure amphitheatre’s lighting has been entirely re-invented. It is even equipped with special production effects. “Colourful atmospheres can be created depending on the event: show, concerts, seminars, conferences…” explains Jean-Philippe Cronier, project leader for Levêque, the company to which the site’s electrical installation has been entrusted. “Low energy consumption LED bulbs also have a far longer lifespan. The installation will generate genuine savings.” In order to facilitate maintenance operations, such as simply changing light bulbs for example, life lines have been installed behind the ceiling . The stair nosing is equipped with blue LED bulbs to illuminate the staircase, just like in a cinema. The trickiest manoeuvre was undoubtedly the creation of a circuit to house the air treatment and smoke ejection system, rendered mandatory by fire prevention regulations. An awkward mission since the company had to work on an existing building. The task was entrusted to Axima Groupe EDF Suez, specialised in environmental engineering. “It wasn’t a particularly complicated site. However, we needed to work within non-standard dimensions,” explains Fancky Lelouvier, the company’s project leader. “Work required the installation of a 30 tonne structure, on the building’s roof, to house the air treatment and smoke ejection system.” No less than 100,000m3 of air can now be treated every hour thanks to this technical zone and to the two metre by two metre pipes that supply it. Over and above this major structural work and upgrading to security standards, accessibility for the disabled has been improved by enlarging the aisles and by installing specially designed seats. “The amphitheatre’s seating capacity has changed from a total of 768 to 620 seats, 14 of which are specially adapted for the disabled.” explains the architect.

Send post as PDF to