GBCE Rewind 2024: A Year of Growth, Innovation, and Sustainability

In 2024, GBCE achieved key milestones in our presence within the sustainable building sector. This pivotal year, marked by our 10th anniversary, was highlighted by ambitious projects, prestigious certifications, and an unwavering commitment to driving the industry towards transformation through strong environmental performance. Whether in the industrial, hospitality, places of worship, or office sectors, our team has leveraged its expertise to address today’s environmental and societal challenges.

We also strengthened our connection with the community by launching the first episode of our Green Leaders podcast, which showcases sustainability leaders, their initiatives, and projects. Through conversations with dedicated professionals, we explored the challenges and successes of implementing sustainable strategies in their projects, the solutions applied to reduce their carbon footprint, and key insights gained during this transformation.

This 2024 rewind highlights the year’s key moments, our team’s achievements, and the successes shared with our partners and clients. Join us in looking back at a year full of progress and innovation!

10th Anniversary: Continuous Growth and Strengthened Ambitions 

In 2024, GBCE celebrated its 10th anniversary—a decade defined by significant growth and increasing recognition in the sustainable building industry. Since our inception, we have expanded our scope, delivered impactful projects, and strengthened our team with passionate and committed talents.

To mark this milestone, we launched our “MAKE IT COUNT” video, a call to action for professionals and organizations to take bold climate action today. This video challenges conventional practices and encourages reflection on our role in addressing the climate crisis through our daily work and business activities.

This decade not only reflects our technical expertise but also our ability to adapt and meet the demands of an evolving industry.

Key Projects

Pomme de Pain: LEED Platinum Certification for a Sustainable Pilot Restaurant in France 🥖

We are proud to have supported Pomme de Pain in achieving LEED Platinum certification for its restaurant in Boulogne-Billancourt. This remarkable achievement involved a dedicated team of professionals and partners whose continuous collaboration was pivotal to the project’s success. Through thoughtful design, careful selection of sustainable materials, and optimized energy systems, this restaurant became the first in France to achieve LEED Platinum under the LEED v4 standard. This milestone sets a new benchmark for the restaurant industry, proving that sustainability and business success can go hand in hand.

Ducati: Sustainable Manufacturing Facility in Rayong, Thailand 🏍️

The Ducati Facility project in Rayong, Thailand, reflects Ducati's commitment to minimizing its environmental impact. In partnership with Archetype Thailand, GBCE is assisting Ducati in defining the sustainability strategy for their Rayong facility and establishing industry-relevant environmental performance indicators, while facilitating the achievement of LEED Gold certification. This eco-friendly facility demonstrates how sustainable construction practices can enhance operational efficiency and environmental performance.

Mission Étrangère de Paris: Sustainable Church Construction in Bangkok, Thailand  ⛪

The Mission Étrangère de Paris (MEP) church project in Silom, Bangkok, represents a harmonious integration of sustainable practices in a place of worship. GBCE implemented environmentally friendly solutions such as high-performance HVAC systems, energy-efficient lighting, optimized water management, and the use of low-impact materials. The building's orientation and natural light optimization ensure thermal and visual comfort. This project serves as a model of sustainability for the community, inspiring eco-friendly practices while providing a functional and durable gathering space

AHURP: Sustainable and Affordable Housing in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 🏠

GBCE is currently leading the energy efficiency team for the AHURP project, funded by the ADB in Ulaanbaatar. This residential initiative involves developing 10,000 housing units by transforming 100 hectares of ger areas into 20 low-carbon, climate-resilient eco-districts. We assist project teams in managing the technical aspects of climate change mitigation, including defining key performance indicators and reviewing international and national best practices for sustainable building performance.

Our role also includes contributing to the reform of local policies for sustainable building adoption, revising building codes, and implementing a capacity-building strategy to upskill stakeholders in adopting new national sustainable building standards.

At the building level, we provide technical studies such as developing interdisciplinary measurement, verification, and reporting systems, conducting energy and thermal modeling, performing life cycle analysis, and facilitating EDGE certification. GBCE also supports the financing of climate strategies by making them attractive to investors and helps develop performance-based financing to ensure real estate projects meet GCF and ADB requirements.

Other Ongoing Projects

We are also supporting projects in hospitality, industry, office spaces, and warehouses by incorporating environmental certifications and sector-specific sustainable strategies. Our expertise ensures optimal energy performance, compliance with regulatory standards, and enhanced user well-being.

New Service: EDGE One Stop Service🌿

As both an EDGE Expert and EDGE Auditor, we now offer tailored solutions to optimize resource efficiency throughout the design and construction process. With a comprehensive and structured approach, we streamline the certification process for our clients. This enables them to reduce operational costs, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to global climate action goals. Through EDGE, we support our partners in creating resilient and responsible infrastructure, aligning their projects with international sustainability standards.

Awards and Recognition: A Testament to Excellence and Leadership 🏅

In 2024, GBCE's work and dedication were recognized with several prestigious awards, highlighting our leadership in sustainable construction. Our founder, Armelle Le Bihan, was honored as one of the 100 visionaries in The Future List 2024 by Koktail Magazine for her innovative and impactful contributions. These accolades reflect our commitment to shaping a more sustainable future and strengthen the trust our partners place in us to deliver ambitious and responsible projects.

Company Culture and Key Moments of 2024

The year 2024 was marked by the growth of our team, enriched with passionate and dedicated new talents.

Conclusion

The year 2024 marked a significant milestone for GBCE, with remarkable achievements, continuous growth, and a variety of projects reflecting our commitment to sustainability. Each initiative, certification, and collaboration strengthened our mission to create more responsible buildings and sustainable environments.

As we look ahead to 2025, we are more determined than ever to push the boundaries of responsible construction and support our partners in their environmental ambitions.

Written by Mehdi BELAHOUCINE