The Environment and Sustainability Institute building was closed on the Penryn campus following the failure.

The building was completed by main contractor Leadbitter in late 2012.

Exeter University said the building was closed on Tuesday after a “small part of masonry cladding on an external front wall gave way”.

The building reopened on Friday with restrictions in place as further checks were carried-out.

In an update Exeter University told local paper the Falmouth Packet: “Scaffolding needs to be put up around where the cladding gave way on the building’s front wall; this needs to be engineered, buttressed scaffolding so is subject to specialist structural preparation, which means it’s unlikely to be started until the end of the week beginning Monday January 12.

“However, more straightforward scaffolding will go up around the rear access door near to the SERSF building site. This area will be accessible but surrounded by temporary fencing.

“Various areas within the building will remain cordoned off and/or boarded up as a safety precaution, and we’re not able to re-open the café until Monday 12 January at the earliest.

“We have had two surveys undertaken by structural engineers to give us the best opportunity to identify the problem’s cause and remedy. The measures described above are all to expedite this process.”