GBCI CIRCLE EUROPE - highly educative and passionate

Reflecting the three days spent in Athens at the #GBCI Europe Circle 2024, we are very thankful for the enriching exchanges with people united by a shared passion for sustainability. The event provided us with highly educative and inspiring sessions.?

The evening reception on Wednesday at Piraeus Tower S.A (pursuing #LEED Platinum and #WELL Platinum) provided the perfect platform for networking with colleagues and fellow sustainability experts.

On Thursday, the presentations, workshops and case studies on the theme “Healthy Human Habitat” took place at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), designed by architect Renzo Piano as a cultural and recreational hub, including new facilities for the?National Library of Greece (NLG)?and the?Greek National Opera (GNO), as well as a 210,000?m2?park. “The Lighthouse”, the viewing platform and glass-walled café, topped by a soaring solar-powered canopy, providing a stunning view of the city and sea, was a great setting for this day of learning.

All the speakers were amazing! Just some examples:

Dr. Eleni Myrivili, Global Chief Heat Officer for the Atlantic Council’s Arsht-Rock Resilience Center and the UN-Habitat, provided inspiring insights into the intricacies of climate change scenarios and local urban initiatives around the globe to fight temperature raise.

Melissa Baker, Senior Vice President at USGBC, presented the new LEED Version v5. Decarbonisation will cover 50% of the points and social value will be addressed as well. EU Taxonomy, SFDR and CSRD alignement will be part of the standard. Exciting!

Thomas Doxiadis, Architect and Landscape Architect ASLA, presented the transformation of the Hellenikon site - the former Athens International Airport. Respecting the unique conditions of the site, a new heart for an ageing body was created, as well as new paradigms of buildings, streets, public spaces and parks. SITES rating system was used as a supporting tool.

Carlos Moreno, urbanist and scientific director of the Chaire ETI (Research Lab at IAE Paris Sorbonne Business School), presented his unique approach to urban issues. His concepts have traveled the world: the ‘Human Smart City’, the ’15-Minute City’, and the ’30-Minute Territory’.

Andrea Valentini, Architect, LEED + WELL AP and accredited instructor for GBC Italia, introduced GBC Historic Building? rating system, an innovative standard in which the recovery needs of the most precious and historical part of the national building set coexists with the indications of the European targets on environmental impact reduction and existing energy redevelopment. We are eagerly looking forward to the release of this system on European and international level.

Moreover, the 7x7 format was very cool and inspiring: Seven speakers each had seven minutes to present an interesting aspect of sustainability. We especially liked Julia Faltus-James unconventional and creative presentation. Bravo!

We truly appreciate the GBCI Circle's mission to unite our community and delve into new ideas.

Thank you so much to Kay Killmann, Nicole Killmann, Andrew Sobchak and many others at GBCI Europe for the perfect organization of the event.

We had a brilliant time and are looking forward to GBCI Europe Circle 2025 in Prague!

#LEED #WELL #GBCIEUROPE #community