welcome

ANNA WOJTKOWIAK Radio journalist
PHD ENG. MARCIN GAWROŃSKI President, Polish Green Building Council PLGBC. Director of Green Building Department, Sweco Poland

“A forest instead of a square” or concrete jungle? A change in the perception of urban space transformations

PHD ENG. ARCH. MONIKA ARCZYŃSKA Architect, Co-founder of A2P2 architecture & planning. Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture, Gdańsk University of Technology

The popularity of the term “concrete jungle,” which entered everyday language in Poland after the publication of Jan Mencwel’s book, has raised awareness of the importance of greenery and water retention in cities. However, not all aspects of sustainable design are as obvious as the need to develop blue-green infrastructure, and public consultations confirm this particularly clearly. The presentation will showcase A2P2’s experiences in this area in recent years.

Construction of tomorrow: sustainable development, investments, and survival strategies in an unstable world

How can construction companies grow in a world full of challenges, from climate change and rising energy costs to the threats of armed conflict and geopolitical instability? How can investments in sustainable technologies, cross-sector cooperation, and access to financing help the construction industry create safer, more resilient, and future-proof projects?

MARCIN CZERNIEWSKI Senior Development Manager, Prologis
AGNIESZKA DUDA Managing Architect, SAO Architecture
KATARZYNA NOWAK Coordinator of the Industry Contact Point Low Carbon Technologies and Clean Energy, Deputy Head of International Cooperation and Entrepreneurship Support, Łukasiewicz – Warsaw Institute of Technology
PROF. ALK PHD BOLESŁAW ROK Professor of Sustainable Management at Kozminski University.
Co-Founder, RES – Centre for Reimagining Sustainability. Management, Finance and Society
moderation: ALICJA KUCZERA CEO, Polish Green Building Council PLGBC

call to action

case 1. Climate neutrality of building materials is already a reality today

PHD ENG. ARTUR GOLDA President of the Management Board, Managing Director, Technology Center BETOTECH, Heidelberg Materials Polska

Modern construction must respond to challenges related to CO₂ emissions, resource consumption, and the need to implement circular economy principles. Faced with growing environmental requirements and market pressure, the cement and concrete sector is undergoing a dynamic transformation. An example of this change is the Brevik plant – the world’s first cement plant equipped with a full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) system, which enables the production of cement with almost zero net emissions.
Concrete recycling and the development of innovative technologies such as Reconcrete also show that climate neutrality and circularity in building materials are already possible today. Thanks to innovation, collaboration across the value chain, and the determination of the industry, the future of construction can be not only more sustainable but also more responsible.

case 2. Powiśle Power Plant – from industrial past to modern space with Aluprof solutions

ELŻBIETA DZIUBAK General Architect, Aluprof
SZYMON WOJCIECHOWSKI President of the Board, Co-owner, Architect-Partner, APA Wojciechowski

A unique project that shows how architecture can combine industrial heritage with modern office, commercial, and residential functions. It has succeeded in reconciling the challenges of revitalization with the requirements of contemporary construction. Aluprof aluminum systems played an important role in the collaboration on the concept, allowing for the creation of modern façade and window solutions while preserving the authentic spirit and character of the building.
Today, the Powiśle Power Plant is not only a place for meetings, work, and shopping – it is also a case study in revitalization that gives new life to historic buildings and sets the direction for future projects.

Circular Construction: Seeing Value, Not Waste

DOMINIK CAMPANELLA Founder, Concular. Member of Leadership Group for Circular Construction at the European Commission, Germany

Circular construction is not just about reducing waste—it’s about creating value. By viewing buildings as material banks, we open up opportunities for entirely new business models, innovation, and sustainable development. In his presentation, Dominik will discuss how circularity can transform the construction industry from one of the biggest polluters to a pioneer of the circular economy.
Presentation in English.

Why are you still digging and concreting? Apply and reuse WFS screw foundation piles

PIOTR BABST Sales Manager, Winkelmann Foundation Screw

Thanks to the patented Flowforming technology, steel screw piles are created to replace traditional concrete foundations – no digging, no wet processes, no material losses. This is an innovative solution that can completely change the way we think about foundations. The presentation will share experiences from the implementation of this technology and discuss how the WFS screw foundation pile system:
– radically reduces project completion time (by up to 70%),
– fits in with the idea of a circular economy thanks to the possibility of reusing the piles,
– opens up new opportunities for sustainable construction – without technological compromises.
This will not only be a demonstration of new possibilities, but also an invitation to change the way we think about the design and construction of foundations. Because if it can be done faster, cleaner, and with the future in mind, why are you still digging and concreting?

Circularity - why and how to promote circular models and practices in construction

The level of circularity on a global scale is declining. We are seeing an increase in the use of secondary raw materials, but the rate of growth in the extraction and consumption of primary raw materials is even greater. Globally, the level of raw material extraction has tripled over the last fifty years. How does circularity solve the problems of the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and pollution? What value can it generate? What is missing in the construction sector for circular solutions to become common practice, and what can experts who put the idea of circular economy into practice on a daily basis share?

ALICJA LESZCZYŃSKA Specification Manager Region Polska, ASSA ABLOY Group
PHD ENG. AGNIESZKA SZNYK President of the Board, INNOWO
PETRO VLADIMIROV Member of the Board, BRDA Foundation
MIKOŁAJ WROCHNA Marketing Director CEE, Tarkett
moderation: ANNA DESOGUS Circular Together, European Climate Pact Ambassador

Experience Zone: Green storytelling

Start-up zone for sustainable construction and innovations that change organizations and management.

WasteTracker. What waste tells us about buildings

RENATA HARTLE President and Co-founder, Waste Tracker

Waste is not only a cost, but also a precise indicator of a building’s efficiency. The presentation will show how measuring, analyzing, and reporting waste data can reveal hidden patterns, minimize losses, and create smart, sustainable real estate. A startup that is revolutionizing the commercial real estate industry by putting the market on a zero-waste path with Europe’s first smart waste meter. This innovative solution not only records and reports, but actually reduces the amount of waste in buildings.

Is an office a disposable plastic bag or a resource bank? Circular strategies for large-scale commercial interior design

MATEUSZ SIKORA Co-founder, Rebench

Most large organizations have world-class purchasing systems for new fixed assets, such as interior furnishings. Far fewer entities have such processes for decommissioning these assets. And when we talk about managing what we already have, we often encounter a black hole and frustration on the part of administrators, facility managers, and architects.
Rebench will present a case study on how to introduce the reuse of office equipment and other commercial interiors on a large scale, recovering value, reducing waste, and generating social and business value.

How to tell data stories that change the world – green Data Storytelling

PHD ANNA MARTENS CEO, OnData. Data Storytelling Expert

In the world of sustainable construction, numbers alone are not enough to convince investors, authorities, and communities. The key is how this data is presented—will it become a story that engages and inspires action? During the presentation, you will learn how to combine hard facts with the psychology of perception and the power of storytelling to communicate the value of sustainable projects more effectively. Participants will leave with a simple framework that will give their data a voice—and a real impact on the future.

Nature as a partner – how can construction support biodiversity?

Today, the construction industry faces two key challenges: the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. Integrating these challenges opens up new opportunities – from increasing the resilience of cities and creating a healthier living environment to building economic value in the real estate sector.
Panel participants will discuss how investments can become a catalyst for positive change: supporting nature regeneration, engaging residents and local governments, and strengthening public-private partnerships. They will also consider which design solutions truly support nature, how to translate the language of ecology into the language of economics, and what is key to ensuring that construction and nature cooperate rather than compete.

ALICJA CEBULAK Landscape Architect, CALLA GROUP
ALEKSANDER LECH President of the Board, SAK Landscape Architecture Association
KAROLINA MALISZEWSKA President, Sendzimir Foundation
PHD MONIKA SZEWCZYK Biodiversity Expert, Institute of Urban and Regional Development
moderation: AGNIESZKA KRUPIŃSKA Sustainability Expert, STRABAG

Investing in Health Pays Back

PHD WHITNEY AUSTIN GRAY Senior Vice President Research, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), USA

Although the benefits of people-centered practices have long been recognized in public health and building science research, recent studies show a clear link between these investments and improved business performance, increased asset value, and higher financial returns. You will learn how research-backed strategies strengthen the business case for investing in health. You will gain insight into real-world case studies that illustrate how prioritizing well-being translates into tangible, long-term success.
Presentation in English.

Health encoded in space: architecture shaping quality of life

Can architecture be a recipe for a better life? In an era of climate crisis, social tensions, and mental overload, the role of space – both public and private – is taking on a whole new dimension. We will discuss how to design cities, buildings, and interiors in the spirit of empathy, inclusivity, and health. How do building materials and urban strategies affect the human body and emotions? How can offices and housing estates promote regeneration, and how can sustainable investments become the foundation of residents’ quality of life? At the intersection of architecture, urban planning, and social research, we will consider how to create spaces that are not only functional and energy-efficient, but above all, human.

MACIEJ BIDERMANN Interior Architect, Sustainable Design Consultant, Arcadis
BARTŁOMIEJ KISIELEWSKI Architect, Partner, Horizone Studio. Vice-chairman of the Municipal Urban Planning and Architectural Commission (MKUA) in Kraków
PIOTR KOZŁOWSKI Design Director, Echo Investment
ALEKSANDRA STĘPNIAK Public Affairs Manager, Velux
moderation: WOJCIECH TWOREK Senior Associate, Colliers

Possible vs foreseeable

PHD NOEMI ZABARI Astrophysicist. Co-founder of Muotech.io and Astroteq.ai. Mentor in NASA Space Apps, Female2Female and other programmes. Recipient of the Strong Woman in IT, Kazimiera Bujwidowa, and Businesswoman of the Year – Leader of New Technologies awards. TEDx speaker

It’s easy to say “possible.” A little harder to say “predictable.” But the latter has a huge advantage. If you can predict something, you can take action before it’s too late. That’s the difference between reacting to risk and staying one step ahead of it.
You’ll hear about space technologies that open up new possibilities to make the predictable possible.

plgbc green building awards 2025 competition summary

BARTOSZ TRZOP Architect, Founder and CEO, Trzop Architekci. Jury Member of the PLGBC Green Building Awards 2025

plgbc green building awards 2025 presentation and cocktail party

Unique statuettes prepared by Horizone Graphics.

Welcome

ALICJA KUCZERA CEO, Polish Green Building Council PLGBC

A Just Transition of the Built Environment

JAMES DRINKWATER Head of the Built Environment programme, Laudes Foundation, Netherlands

What will be needed for full decarbonization if we focus on carbon emissions throughout the life cycle – what types of innovation – and what types of new partnerships are needed.
Presentation in English.

Launch of the PLGBC report - The carbon footprint of buildings under the microscope: from diagnosis to action

PHD ENG. DOROTA BARTOSZ Director for Sustainable Buildings, Polish Green Building Council PLGBC
WIKTOR KOWALSKI Member of the Board, Polish Green Building Council PLGBC. Associate Director, Buro Happold

LAUNCH OF THE REPORT
Embodied emissions are becoming a key element of the climate balance of buildings. As operational emissions decrease as a result of decarbonization processes, it is material and design decisions that determine a building’s environmental impact. The availability of EPDs and life cycle assessment standards should enable carbon footprint-oriented design, and growing regulatory and financial expectations mean that the lack of a uniform approach to the environmental assessment of buildings increases market risk.

Decarbonization of buildings in the face of the climate crisis: policy, practice, investor perspective

Faced with rising costs associated with climate change and increasing regulatory and market pressure, the construction sector is facing the need for a profound, systemic transformation. The panel participants want to jointly consider:
– how to create a coherent and effective climate policy for low-carbon construction,
– what challenges are associated with the implementation of regulations and technologies in design and investment practice,
– how to balance different perspectives – analytical, administrative, design, and executive – to build the sector’s resilience to the effects of the climate crisis.

KLAUDIA JANIK Climate and Energy Policy Analyst, Instytut Reform
ŁUKASZ OLBROMSKI Associate Director, Arup
PRZEMYSŁAW PERCZYŃSKI Head, Building Energy Performance and Standards Division, Sustainable Economy Department, Ministry of Development and Technology
PHD ENG. ARCH. MATEUSZ PŁOSZAJ-MAZUREK Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture, Warsaw University of Technology. Product owner, software engineer, One Click LCA
moderation: PHD ENG. DOROTA BARTOSZ Director for Sustainable Buildings, Polish Green Building Council PLGBC

The role of carbon dioxide removal in mitigating climate change

PHD ENG. MARCIN GAWROŃSKI President, Polish Green Building Council PLGBC. Director of Green Building Department, Sweco Poland

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is a set of methods that remove carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere and store it permanently. It is a diverse and rapidly developing family of techniques. What is the optimal portfolio of CDR pathways for Poland and what needs to happen for them to become a reality? Answers to these and other questions are being sought as part of a research project carried out for Carbon Gap. If you want to know more, come to the presentation and discussion.

Decarbonization of construction: the place of CCS/CCSU in the climate neutrality strategy

Buildings account for more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. In striving for climate neutrality, the construction sector must not only increase energy efficiency and use renewable energy sources, but also reduce emissions associated with materials and processes that cannot be easily decarbonized. In this context, the question increasingly arises: can carbon capture and storage technologies play a role in the future of construction?
Panel participants will discuss:
– the limits of emission reduction in construction,
– the role of CCS/CCSU in the building materials industry,
– the potential for offsetting unavoidable emissions,
– controversies and challenges associated with this technology.

PHD ENG. MARCIN GAWROŃSKI President, Polish Green Building Council PLGBC. Director of Green Building Department, Sweco Poland
MACIEJ GIERS Energy market analyst, Project coordinator, Wise Europa
ANDRZEJ LOSOR Member of the Management Board, Heidelberg Materials Polska
MONIKA MICHALSKA Sustainability Project Manager, UNEP/GRID-Warsaw
moderation: PHD ENG. DOROTA BARTOSZ Director for Sustainable Buildings, Polish Green Building Council PLGBC