“We’re closing the building out of caution,” spokesperson Imad El Kaka stated. “Staff whose offices are in the building are welcome to come and get their belongings, under supervision, and will have to find another place to work from.”
Legionella bacteria have been a major problem during the coronavirus pandemic, as many buildings are used by fewer people than usual, meaning that taps are flushed infrequently, causing water to remain stagnant. “We’ve paid more attention than usual to this during the coronavirus pandemic, and we’ve taken additional measures to prevent Legionella,” said El Kaka. “We’ve been successful everywhere, until now, at the Tinbergen Building. A larger-than-desired quantity of Legionella was found here.”
Study spots reserved for pilot study
The high-rise buildings at the heart of the campus have been mostly empty in recent times. Due to an upcoming renovation, staff representing several departments were transferred to other buildings a while ago. The study spots inside the building have been unavailable for a while, as well, as they were reserved for the ‘Testing for Your Future’ pilot study. It was announced on Wednesday that this pilot study has been called off for now.
According to El Kaka, a ‘very small’ number of employees currently works in the building. “Most of them are affiliated with the Erasmus School of Economics, which faculty also has offices inside the E-Building.”
The closure only concerns the high-rise building itself and will last until 21 June at the very earliest. The skyway between the Tinbergen and Erasmus Buildings and the traverse between the Tinbergen and Theil Buildings (which is home to the offices of the University Council and Erasmus Magazine, as well as other offices) will remain accessible.
