“From prison to university” That quote from Thierry Magnin, former rector of UCLy, encapsulates the spirit of Universit\u00e9 Catholique de Lyon – Campus Saint-Paul. We stand before a place of transformation. It changed from confinement to freedom. It is a testament to Lyon’s commitment to education and renewal.
Universit\u00e9 Catholique de Lyon, also known as UCLy, has a rich history. It was founded in 1875. The university combines respect for humanist values and openness to society. It is a private higher education institution of general interest.
This campus, Saint-Paul, opened in 2015. It is located on the site of the former Saint-Paul prison. The location marks a new chapter for the university. The university also has campuses at Carnot in Lyon and Alpes Europe in Annecy.
Consider the architectural concept of Campus Saint-Paul. It embodies a humanist vision. Knowledge, solidarity, and intergenerationality converge here. It is designed as a living space. It innovates with regard to urban practices. The diversity of people and uses are important. The design creates a new piece of the city. It integrates into the city. The design creates bridges between the north-south and east-west axes. It erases old divisions. The architectural approach respects the area’s heritage. The university also focuses on the environmental approach.
The Saint-Paul campus incorporates several faculties. These include economic sciences and management. The faculties also cover legal, political, and social sciences. Science is also a key subject.
UCLy is more than just classrooms. It is an innovative campus. The university instills a spirit of entrepreneurship. The campus provides excellent conditions for student entrepreneurs. The CUBE incubator is a 150 m\u00b2 space. It has individual boxes and meeting rooms. A coworking space is available. There is also a co-design room. It allows for the co-design of projects. The partners space encourages interaction. Students connect with companies.
UCLy embraces a “Humanities” approach. They focus on personal development. The goal is to offer all the tools students need. They open up to the world. Training courses combine sciences and humanities. Management, law, and psychology are brought together. Students can also participate in sports. The campus offers a 500 m\u00b2 sports hall. Music and performance spaces are available.
The Saint Paul campus is equipped with scientific laboratories. The Faculty of Science has high-performance tools. There are twelve teaching laboratories. They include microbiology, biochemistry, chemistry, and biology labs.
The campus promotes sustainability. A heat pump uses groundwater for heating and cooling. The glass roof is bioclimatic. Flat roofs have vegetation. The building has high energy performance.
As we conclude our visit to Universit\u00e9 Catholique de Lyon – Campus Saint-Paul, consider its impact. It embodies transformation and innovation. It is a place where the pursuit of knowledge meets a commitment to humanity. The former prison now stands as a beacon of learning. It shines brightly in the city of Lyon.