Sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY

GCA Architects, aware of the global challenge posed by protecting the environment and fighting climate change, integrates into its sustainability strategy lines and programs aimed at minimizing direct environmental impacts, typical of its operational activity, and indirect ones, mainly those derived from the construction activity of the projects in which it participates.

PURPOSE

This policy aims to establish the framework of action of GCA Architects in matters of Environment and Climate Change in all its activities and constitutes the reference framework for establishing improvement objectives in terms of:

The contribution to the transition to a circular and sustainable economic model
The integration of climate change risk management and the detection of new business opportunities associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy
The involvement of its interest groups in the collective commitment to action against climate change
The protection of biodiversity
Comprehensive management of the environmental footprint

GCA Architects complies with the provisions of European and Spanish legislation on environmental and climate change issues and has taken into account the main standards included in the preparation of this policy, among others:

Law 7/2023, of May 20, on climate change and energy transition

On the other hand, GCA Architects adopt the principles of conduct for the fight against climate change and the protection of the environment included in the protocols and standards internationally recognized, among others, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the European Green Deal (EU Green Deal).

PRINCIPLES

GCA Architects is committed to protecting the environment, preventing pollution, mitigating the effects of climate change and adapting to it, conserving biodiversity, promoting the circular economy and protecting natural resources, with action based on the following principles:

Comply with the environmental requirements established in the applicable regulations and the commitments signed by GCA Architects in this matter
Implement the necessary processes to guarantee the continuous improvement of the Environmental Management System and, in this way, improve GCA Architects environmental performance

Involve interest groups in the development of biodiversity conservation, environmental protection and pollution prevention projects
Raise awareness and train employees in environmental management in order to promote rational and efficient use of natural resources, as well as in managing the risks and opportunities of climate change
Develop its activity in the most environmentally friendly way, involving its main interest groups in the global challenge that climate change and the loss of biodiversity pose
Incorporate environmental criteria throughout the value chain, both in the relationship with its suppliers, as well as in risk management and analysis of operations
Integrate the risks and opportunities of climate change into decision-making processes, minimizing the impact of your activity and accompanying clients in the transition to a lowcarbon economy
Design and market innovative services that generate added environmental value
Participate in initiatives, both national and international, related to the contribution to the protection of the environment and the fight against climate change through the activity of Architecture
Promote responsible behavior among all interest groups by communicating the evolution and results of their environmental performance through periodic reports

IMPLEMENTATION INSTRUMENTS

GCA Architects’ Environmental and Climate Change Policy is implemented, always guaranteeing its full adequacy and coherence with GCA Architects strategy and with the demands of a changing environment, through the following instruments:

GCA Architects Sustainability Policy
The strategic lines related to the environmental dimension included in the successive sustainability plans
The corresponding programs and their associated objectives in which the implementation of the strategic lines is specified
The Environmental Management System and the Carbon Footprint Management system

The rest of the internal policies and codes of GCA Architects, which include the guidelines defined in different matters. In particular, the principles related to the sustainability of architectural activity included in the risk control and management framework of GCA Architects, the Sectoral Guides and the Policy for Integrating sustainability risks into decisions.

Comply with the environmental requirements established in the applicable regulations and the commitments signed by GCA Architects in this matter
Implement the necessary processes to guarantee the continuous improvement of the Environmental Management System and, in this way, improve GCA Architects environmental performance
Involve interest groups in the development of biodiversity conservation, environmental protection and pollution prevention projects
Raise awareness and train employees in environmental management in order to promote rational and efficient use of natural resources, as well as in managing the risks and opportunities of climate change
Develop its activity in the most environmentally friendly way, involving its main interest groups in the global challenge that climate change and the loss of biodiversity pose
Incorporate environmental criteria throughout the value chain, both in the relationship with its suppliers, as well as in risk management and analysis of operations
Integrate the risks and opportunities of climate change into decision-making processes, minimizing the impact of your activity and accompanying clients in the transition to a lowcarbon economy

We are an architecture and design firm formed by an international team of creative minds, architects, designers and technical engineers. Our driving force is to create sustainable social architecture, increase people’s quality of life and make projects profitable for our customers.

From iconic sustainable projects to the digital BIM tools we develop to fulfill our ambitions, our experts advise and accompany our clients on energy efficiency and throughout the entire process of international environmental certifications.

We have analyzed and structured the social challenges into six priority areas that offer us the greatest opportunity to contribute significant sustainable results to architecture through our projects. In GCA we seek excellence in design, learning and constant innovation to face the challenges with a solution that manages to exceed the expectations of each client and maximize the social benefit of the investment.

BADÁVILA - case study

Innovation and Sustainability through Industry 4.0

With a specifically designed structural system and nearly zero carbon emissions, BADAVILA bldg becomes an outstanding paradigm on how to blend construction innovation and sustainability with the memory of the place through the materiality of the facades and the industrial-look interior spaces.

Download PDF

CLARIS 89 - case study

Leed Gold BD+C Core and shell and Well Gold

PLATINUM@BCN - case study

Highest Worldwide LEED C+S score for Commercial building

Comply with the environmental requirements established in the applicable regulations and the commitments signed by GCA Architects in this matter
Implement the necessary processes to guarantee the continuous improvement of the Environmental Management System and, in this way, improve GCA Architects environmental performance
Involve interest groups in the development of biodiversity conservation, environmental protection and pollution prevention projects
Raise awareness and train employees in environmental management in order to promote rational and efficient use of natural resources, as well as in managing the risks and opportunities of climate change
Develop its activity in the most environmentally friendly way, involving its main interest groups in the global challenge that climate change and the loss of biodiversity pose
Incorporate environmental criteria throughout the value chain, both in the relationship with its suppliers, as well as in risk management and analysis of operations
Integrate the risks and opportunities of climate change into decision-making processes, minimizing the impact of your activity and accompanying clients in the transition to a lowcarbon economy

Comply with the environmental requirements established in the applicable regulations and the commitments signed by GCA Architects in this matter
Implement the necessary processes to guarantee the continuous improvement of the Environmental Management System and, in this way, improve GCA Architects environmental performance
Involve interest groups in the development of biodiversity conservation, environmental protection and pollution prevention projects
Raise awareness and train employees in environmental management in order to promote rational and efficient use of natural resources, as well as in managing the risks and opportunities of climate change
Develop its activity in the most environmentally friendly way, involving its main interest groups in the global challenge that climate change and the loss of biodiversity pose
Incorporate environmental criteria throughout the value chain, both in the relationship with its suppliers, as well as in risk management and analysis of operations
Integrate the risks and opportunities of climate change into decision-making processes, minimizing the impact of your activity and accompanying clients in the transition to a lowcarbon economy

TEST

Comply with the environmental requirements established in the applicable regulations and the commitments signed by GCA Architects in this matter
Implement the necessary processes to guarantee the continuous improvement of the Environmental Management System and, in this way, improve GCA Architects environmental performance
Involve interest groups in the development of biodiversity conservation, environmental protection and pollution prevention projects
Raise awareness and train employees in environmental management in order to promote rational and efficient use of natural resources, as well as in managing the risks and opportunities of climate change
Develop its activity in the most environmentally friendly way, involving its main interest groups in the global challenge that climate change and the loss of biodiversity pose
Incorporate environmental criteria throughout the value chain, both in the relationship with its suppliers, as well as in risk management and analysis of operations
Integrate the risks and opportunities of climate change into decision-making processes, minimizing the impact of your activity and accompanying clients in the transition to a lowcarbon economy