Certifications and Labels
Our studio helps project owners and clients obtain environmental certifications and labels, when these are required for their projects. This support, which in principle covers the entire project process (programming, design, implementation through to handover), is generally provided within the framework of a dedicated Project Management Assistance (PMA) service.
The PMA service is usually provided at the building level, but the studio also gives support with certification at urban level (“Ecoquartier” (Eco district), HQE Aménagement (sustainability label), and soon BBCA Neighborhood certification).
The management and operational follow-up of certification and labeling processes our studio carries out, initially at building level, can be distinguished according to the following typologies (non-exhaustive) to adapt to the diverse requirements of project owners.
- General environmental certifications, French or international: HQE Bâtiment Durable, HQE Bâtiment, BREEAM New Construction, BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit-Out, LEED
- Certifications/labels focused on working conditions and wellbeing: WELL, Osmoz
- Residential-specific certifications: NF Habitat, NF Habitat HQE
- Regional sustainable building methodologies: BDF, BDM, BDO…
- Labels/certifications specific to urban biodiversity: Biodivercity, Effinature...
- Labels specific to energy and/or carbon performance, bio-based products, and the circular economy: BBC, Effinergie, BBCA, Bâtiment biosourcé, Circolab...
Through its PMA service, our studio can carry out environmental programming to lay the foundations as far upstream as possible for the certification requirements that the design teams will be aiming to achieve in the project.
During design studies, certification/label requirements defined in line with all the specific parameters of the context and project, are subject to rigorous methodical monitoring throughout the study phase, in coordination with the project management teams, so that they can take into account the target requirements as early on as possible, and receive regular feedback (and if necessary, flexibility in adapting requirements to the project, for example if constraints not initially foreseen arise).
During the design study phase, and when the studio is commissioned to act as the environmental project manager (with the environmental project management assistance service carried out by an external party), studies relating to the obtainment of certifications are listed in advance according to the program and the profiles targeted by the project manager assistant, and integrated into the environmental studies.
Lastly, in terms of construction and technical validation processes, our studio, when hired for the PMA, carries out site monitoring in line with the profiles and requirements of the certifications or labels in question. This includes both the monitoring of low-impact worksites (waste, water, and energy consumption management, pollution limitation, reduction of impact on flora and fauna, etc.) and the monitoring of the operational implementation of all requirements (technical validation of materials and equipment).
Our studio also carries out district-wide management and support tasks within the scope of urban projects. Whether it’s for Ecoquartier certification, HQE Aménagement certification or, in the very near future, BBCA Neightborhood certification, our studio’s aim is always to provide rigorous early monitoring to ensure the successful completion of all certification processes.