Mould spreads at South Campus, forcing University of Copenhagen students online

Yet another chapter has been added to the South Campus mould problem story.

The University of Copenhagen (UCPH) now announces on KUnet that both the ground floor and the first floor of buildings 21, 22, and 27 will now be partially closed. Mould has been found in a number of classrooms, and teaching at the Faculty of Humanities is now to be moved online via Zoom.

This comes only a few months after the first mould problems were detected in office spaces in building 21. Since then, the problem has escalated significantly.

»Fortunately, this time it is not a question of closing entire floors, only select rooms. We have taken several different types of tests in all rooms, and mould has not been found in all rooms. It is therefore possible to keep parts of the floors open,« says Karen Dilling, deputy director for the UCPH buildings uniit BYG, to KUnet.

Online teaching for the rest of the semester

The closures took effect from 24 April and affect both teaching staff and students. All departments at the Faculty of Humanities use the affected rooms for teaching, and the teaching has to therefore be moved to home-based instruction.

»It is not a dream scenario, I must admit. There are probably not many of us who want to return to teaching on Zoom. But this is the best possible way to get through the last weeks of the semester,« says Eva Silberschmidt Viala, Associate Dean for Education at the Faculty of Humanities.

She emphasises, however, that the summer exams appear set to take place physically, which she describes as a positive outcome for both students and teaching staff.

Problem began quietly

The mould was first discovered in December 2024 in an office in building 21, where the Danish Technological Institute found mould growth between the linoleum floor and the concrete deck. The discovery was considered an isolated case at the time. But subsequent testing revealed problems in several offices and later in buildings 22 and 27 as well.

By March 2025, the mould findings had become so extensive that staff in several of the buildings were sent home or relocated. The situation was further complicated by the simultaneous relocation of administrative staff as part of the university’s administration reform.

»We are fully aware of the strain it places on individuals to suddenly lose access to their office and personal belongings,« Karen Dilling said at the time in an internal communication on KUnet.

No acute health risk — but monitor symptoms

The university notes that mould is typically only problematic for individuals with asthma or allergies. Students and staff who have spent time in the affected rooms and who experience symptoms are encouraged to contact their doctor.

At the same time, it is emphasised that corridors, study cafés, and about half of the classrooms can still be used, as no mould has been found there. In recent months, extensive dust and air sampling as well as destructive (physical) testing have been carried out in the buildings. The closed rooms have been locked and clearly marked with information signs on the doors.