Yesterday we attended the @GBCE SustainabilityXL event, focused on “Affordability, Innovation, and Competitiveness,” in the stunning setting of the University City of Alcalá de Henares—an ideal environment for reflecting on the future of sustainable building.

The event featured plenary sessions as well as smaller, more focused sessions addressing various topics. With such a high caliber of speakers, it was difficult to choose which ones to attend.

We participated in the following individual presentations:
“Affordable Housing or Sustainable Housing?” moderated by Cecilia Foronda of ECODES, which addressed the need to incorporate innovation in management and regulation.
“How Much Does It Cost to Decarbonize the Existing Building Stock?” where figures were presented, and Joaquim Arcas, Executive Director of Cíclica, weighed the pros and cons of rehabilitating entire blocks versus phased renovations.
“The Use of AI to Accelerate Sustainability in Buildings,” where María Esteban Ferrer, a research architect at Cartif, showcased real-world examples of AI applications in our sector. We gained invaluable insights from speakers closely connected to our daily lives, culminating in a presentation by Javier Burón Cuadrado, Managing Director of Nasuvinsa, analyzing the most efficient urban-residential metabolism.

Thank you to GBCE for creating these high-value spaces. We continue to move forward in transforming sustainability into tangible results for our clients.