LILLIAD Learning Center Innovation

LILLIAD Learning Center Innovation, commonly shortened to LILLIAD, is the scientific learning center (forum des savoirs) of the University of Lille, located on the Cité scientifique campus in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, in the Hauts-de-France region of France. It opened to the public on 7 September 2016 and was officially inaugurated on 17 November 2016, replacing and radically transforming the former university library of the Cité scientifique campus. The name LILLIAD is a registered trademark with the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). The center is organized around three main functions. The first is a scientific university library, with specialized documentary collections in science and technology, open and bookable closed work spaces, multimedia areas, a large scientific collection, an augmented library and digitized resources. The second is an events hub, with amphitheatres, rooms and an exhibition hall. The third is Xperium, a space dedicated to research, experiments, exhibitions and discoveries aimed at making science accessible to a broad audience. LILLIAD is not only the library for science students of the University of Lille; it is also open to the wider university community, companies, innovation actors, secondary education and the general public. It is described as a "university library of a new kind" and a "space dedicated to learning", equipped with recent digital technologies. Its facilities include a university library, relaxation areas, scientific exhibition spaces such as Xperium, conference rooms, a cafeteria, closed individual or group work spaces bookable online, multimedia spaces and administrative offices. Architecturally, LILLIAD is composed of large, bright open spaces, curves, glass facades and a large glass dome, as well as a planted roof forming a promenade. The project preserved the original cylindrical modernist library building, excavated and extended its basement with a curved extension, and kept the original claustras and dome. The whole building covers an area of 12,600 m², and the library has storage space for books and periodicals of approximately 13 linear kilometres. The project was co-financed by the Hauts-de-France region, the University of Lille, the French State, the European Metropolis of Lille (MEL), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and the European Union. The project management was led by the Hauts-de-France region, with Auer+Weber+Assoziierte as project manager. LILLIAD is a public, state-owned facility of the University of Lille and operates as a brand and service of the university.

The history of LILLIAD begins with the former university library of the Cité scientifique campus in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, built in 1965 by architect Noël Le Maresquier and conceived as the heart of the university campus. The building consisted of three levels of 2,800 square metres each, including a buried basement. It was notable for having almost no load-bearing walls and being "totally glazed, full height on both floors, at 360 degrees". Decorative claustras surrounded the exterior facade and the building was topped with a glass dome. Modern at its opening, the library became increasingly unsuited to the needs of its users over the years and posed safety problems. In autumn 2011, it closed its doors for a period of renovation and extension works. In March 2013, the architectural competition was won by the Munich-Stuttgart firm Auer+Weber+Assoziierte. After almost five years of works, the new building opened to the public on 7 September 2016 under the new name LILLIAD Learning Center Innovation. It was officially inaugurated on 17 November 2016. The project was led by the Hauts-de-France region for project ownership and Auer+Weber+Assoziierte for project management. It was co-financed by the Hauts-de-France region, the University of Lille, the French State, the European Metropolis of Lille (MEL), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and the European Union. The concept of the learning center, or "forum des savoirs", was born in the United States in the 1990s and designates a part or the whole of a university library where "the pedagogical dimension is essential". As is generally the case, the establishment of such a forum was accompanied by an ambitious architectural project. Recognized as a representative building of architectural modernism, the former cylindrical library was preserved in the new architectural project. The basement was excavated and underwent a significant curved extension around the main part. The eastern part of the extension houses Xperium, a space for demonstrating experiments, and the western part an events space. The roof of the extension was planted to create a promenade space. The original claustras and dome were preserved. The interior of the original building was renovated to house the library space. The library has storage space for books and periodicals of approximately 13 linear kilometres. The entire building represents an area of 12,600 m². LILLIAD is a registered trademark with the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). It is located on the Cité scientifique campus, at the heart of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lille, near the major Lille science schools, research laboratories and the Haute-Borne European science park, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, a green technopole and student city of the European Metropolis of Lille (Hauts-de-France). The site is surrounded by the A1, A23, A27 and N227 (A22) motorways and is relatively close to Lille-Lesquin airport. It is also served by the Lille metro and its two stations within the campus: Cité Scientifique – Professeur Gabillard and Quatre Cantons – Stade Pierre Mauroy, placing it less than 15 minutes from the centre of Lille and its two stations. It is also close to the Pierre-Mauroy stadium and the V2 and Heron Parc commercial zones, and benefits from local infrastructure including a park-and-ride with more than 2,000 spaces.

• 2016

  LILLIAD opens to the public on 7 September and is officially inaugurated on 17 November.

• 2013

  Auer+Weber+Assoziierte wins the architectural competition.

• 2011

  The old library closes for renovation and extension works.

• 1965

  The former university library of the Cité scientifique campus is built by Noël Le Maresquier.

A "university library of a new kind" and a "forum des savoirs" combining library, events and science discovery for the university community, businesses, innovation actors, secondary education and the general public.

• Scientific university library

  Specialized documentary collections in science and technology, open and bookable closed work spaces, multimedia areas, augmented library and digitized resources.

• Xperium

  A space dedicated to research, experiments, exhibitions and discoveries.

• Event spaces

  Amphitheatres, rooms and an exhibition hall for events and conferences.

• Bookable work spaces

  Closed individual or group work spaces bookable online.

1. 1LILLIAD - LILLIAD Learning center Innovationlilliad.univ-lille.fr
2. 2Services sur place - LILLIAD Learning center Innovationlilliad.univ-lille.fr
3. 3Wi-Fi - LILLIAD Learning center Innovationlilliad.univ-lille.fr
4. 4Casiers - LILLIAD Learning center Innovationlilliad.univ-lille.fr
5. 5Lilliad Learning Center Innovationwikidata.org
6. 6Lilliad Learning Center Innovationfr.wikipedia.org