Saint-Gobain's Olympic Village a Wonder of Sustainability
This year’s Olympic games are set to be a landmark event in sustainable sporting history.
Organisers aim to halve carbon emissions compared to previous Games, with green construction being a key part contributor to this.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Village represents a significant advancement in sustainable urban development.
Spanning 126 acres across three French towns, the complex, designed to house 15,000 Olympic and 8,000 Paralympic athletes, comprises 82 buildings spread over 330,000 square metres.
The project's primary objectives include reusability, carbon emission reduction and waste minimisation.
- All construction materials and techniques were selected based on their energy-saving properties and reduced environmental impact. The Village showcases numerous innovative features:
Buildings constructed with low-carbon concrete, wood, and recycled materials - 100% renewable energy usage, with solar panels on many roofs
- Geothermal heating and cooling systems
- Passive design strategies for energy efficiency
- Experimental technologies, such as seashell-based pavements for water absorption and cooling
Vinci, Bouygues Construction, Saint-Gobain and Accor strive for greenest Olympic Village
French construction giants Vinci and Bouygues Construction played a key role in developing the infrastructure of the 2024 Paris Games, which opened today (July 26).
Vinci utilised low-carbon concrete and sustainable building practices to construct the Universeine district, which will house athletes during the Games and later transform into a mixed-use neighbourhood.
Bouygues Construction, meanwhile, focused on integrating renewable energy sources and eco-friendly materials, ensuring the village's long-term environmental impact is minimised.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games also showcases urban regeneration through innovative architecture and repurposing of existing structures.
Showcasing innovative construction techniques and eco-friendly designs, Saint-Gobain, a global leader in sustainable construction, has played a crucial role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
By utilising barges for material transport along waterways, the company achieved a 50% reduction in emissions in 2023, keeping over 60 25-ton lorries off the roads.
This US$1.85bn project, the largest single-site construction endeavour in France, is set to redefine standards for large-scale urban projects globally and align with Paris' goal to reduce the event's carbon footprint by 50% compared to previous Olympics.
French multinational Accor will manage athlete accommodations, later repurposed for housing.
Refitting and repurposing takes Olympic Village sustainability further
Only one permanent venue, the Aquatics Centre – designed by VenhoevenCS and Ateliers 2/3/4/ – has been built specifically for the Games.
Instead, existing landmarks, including the Grand Palais, have undergone significant renovations, with the Tadao Ando-designed Bourse de Commerce repurposed as an art museum.
This US$174mn facility features a timber frame and solar panels, embodying the event's eco-friendly ethos.
Post-Games, the Village will be transformed into a mixed-use complex with minimal refitting and will transform into an eco-friendly district post-Games, housing 12,000 people and workers.
This ambitious project sets a new benchmark for sustainable construction on a grand scale. As cities worldwide grapple with the challenges of urban development and climate change, the Paris 2024 Olympic Village offers valuable insights into creating eco-friendly, adaptable urban spaces that can serve multiple purposes over time.
Benoit Bazin, CEO of Saint-Gobain, says that the 2024 event: “aims to set an example in terms of diversity, inclusion and responsible commitment, with ambitious targets to halve the event’s carbon footprint compared with previous Games.
A goal that is naturally in line with our corporate purpose and the Group’s ambition to be the worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction.
Together, we’re going to experience a unique, magical and extremely unifying moment for all the Group's employees.”
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