- Campus
- 26/06/2026
Many heat reports, but campus appears to withstand the heat
Despite the red weather warning due to extreme heat, the TU/e campus remains open. Exams are also taking place as scheduled on Friday because the buildings are equipped with air conditioning. Over the past few days, the university has taken measures to cope with the high temperatures. Despite numerous heat-related reports, no major consequences have emerged so far.
The temperature inside MetaForum on Thursday afternoon is reasonably comfortable. There is a somewhat stuffy, sweaty smell in the space, although that may also have something to do with the many students cramming for their exams.
In several ESA offices, water is dripping from the air conditioning units. One staff member has moved the desks aside to prevent water from reaching the computers. Here and there, puddles of water could be found on the floor on Friday morning.
According to Margot Wolfert-Boesveld, communications advisor at Campus & Facilities (C&F), the dripping is a normal phenomenon, comparable to the droplets that form on an ice-cold soda can taken out of the refrigerator.
So nothing to worry about, Wolfert says, although it is clear that a heat wave is underway. Major consequences on campus appear to have been avoided. Despite the red weather warning issued for Friday, exams are continuing as usual in buildings equipped with air conditioning. The university is encouraging students who do not have cooling at home to come to campus and take good care of themselves.
Sunshades
Earlier this week, TU/e already took measures to keep the buildings as cool as possible. For example, the ventilation systems remain on at night to remove heat from the buildings. The sunshades have also been adjusted.
The most critical spaces receive priority when malfunction reports are submitted. Many heat-related reports came in on Thursday, although Wolfert says that is to be expected under these circumstances.
According to her, there have been no notable malfunctions. An agreement was made with technical service provider Unica to focus on the operational reliability of the cooling generation system. Malfunctions affecting these systems receive priority, and locations that require it are provided with additional cooling whenever possible.
“That is not something that can be taken for granted and is only done in urgent or extreme situations,” Wolfert says. Only a limited number of mobile air conditioners and temporary split units are available.
Ice cream
One of the warmer buildings on campus is Traverse. Because of the heat, the ESA department located on the third floor has temporarily moved to MetaForum. Across the entire floor, only two marketing and communications staff members from Mechanical Engineering remain: Ashley Lehman and Lars Hiemstra.
The heat does not seem to bother them much. The window is open, and a fan provides some relief. And they have water. And ice cream. “I’ve already had two,” Hiemstra admits.
Both say they were still able to work productively during the morning. “By the end of the day I do feel a bit more lethargic” says Lehman. Still, they seem to be coping surprisingly well, and the mood remains cheerful. Hiemstra says: “If you spend the whole day complaining, you’ll only feel even hotter.”
TU/e-worthy
Master’s student in Electrical Engineering Alexandros Peonidis has come up with a distinctly TU/e-style solution to the heat. Lacking other ways to cool down, he decided to increase the voltage of two computer fans he had lying around. ‘For that, I’m using a laboratory power supply that I bought five years ago at a Thor auction, Peonidis explains via Instagram. The fans normally operate at 12 volts. To make them more powerful, he runs them at 17 volts. ’It’s a bit of a nerdy solution, but for now it works well.'
According to Wolfert, there have so far been no problems in the laboratories. Several labs on campus cannot be allowed to become too warm.'Materials expand at high temperatures, which means that, for example, lasers are no longer properly calibrated and results become unreliable. It also cannot become too warm in the cleanroom.' According to her, the university took hot weather into account when designing the laboratories, making them less susceptible to outdoor temperatures.
Remaining alert
C&F is asking staff members, including those working in laboratories, to help keep the buildings as cool as possible. For example, they are advised not to make intensive use of equipment and to avoid gathering in large groups. Above all, people are advised to take good care of themselves, drink enough water, and remain alert to signs of dehydration or overheating.
Three students are sitting on a wall in front of Neuron to get some fresh air. The quiet study room where they have been studying on Thursday is quite warm. However, it is still much better than their student rooms at home, where the heat has become truly unbearable. Even so, one of them says: “I’d rather have this weather than 15 degrees and rain. I’ve missed the summer.”
This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.
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