Bouygues Bâtiment International, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, and partner Intrakat, broke ground recently on the Riviera Tower, a $360-million residential tower in Athens, Greece. When completed in 2026, the 650-ft-high building will be the tallest tower in Greece. The 50-story building will include 169 apartments. Designed by Foster+Partners, the design emphasizes the place of nature within the building itself and in its surrounding area. Buro Happold is the project’s structural engineer. The design connects two towers with a spine composed of high-rise gardens and infinity-edge swimming pools alternating on each of the floors.

Seismic resilience is another critical component of the design. Beyond the structural challenges associated with tall buildings, the team is tasked with balancing aesthetic requirements with low-carbon standards. Toward that goal, the team worked with Greek suppliers for a year on new cement and concrete formulations. The project is targeting LEED Gold certification. At its peak, the site will employ 1,000 people. The Riviera Tower is part of an urban regeneration program, known as “the Ellenikon,” developed by Lamda Development, which aims to transform the former Athens International Airport site and several adjacent areas used during the 2004 Olympic Games into a showcase for 21st-century Greece.

Germany

Frankfurt Judiciary Center

Hochtief was awarded a PPP contract to expand the Frankfurt am Main judiciary center in Germany. The two new buildings will house several courts, public prosecutors’ offices and judicial authorities. Hochtief is scheduled to complete the buildings—with a combined area of 415,000 sq ft—by mid-2027 and subsequently operate them for a period of 30 years. On each building Hochtief will install large-scale photovoltaic systems. The buildings will be supplied with district heating to be fed into the rooms through heating and cooling floors.

Australia

Apartment Development

Lendlease and Daiwa House Australia broke ground on a $650-million build-to-rent apartment development in Melbourne. Lendlease will develop, construct and act as investment manager for the project. The development will include 797 residences in a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments spanning 45 levels. Residents will have access to amenities and communal spaces including a lap pool, bowling alley, co-working space, virtual sports and game rooms, a cinema, and a gym with spa, sauna and steam rooms. The project is targeting 5 Star Green Star Design & As Built v1.3 rating. Resident occupancy is scheduled for early 2026.

France

Oncology Innovation Building

Eiffage Construction, a subsidiary of Eiffage, broke ground on a 270,000-sq-ft oncology innovation building for Kadans Science Partner on the Campus Grand Parc in Villejuif, France. Baumschlager Eberle and SAME Architectes started design of the project in July. The design includes three buildings ranging from seven to nine stories high. The future complex will be built on a shared four-story base around a central island, designed to promote interaction and exchanges. The design includes reception halls, a restaurant, multi-use hall and shared terrace. Two basement levels are dedicated to parking. The project is targeting Breeam International Excellent certification, the E+C- Label at E2C1 level and the WiredScore Silver Label.

United Kingdom

US Air force infrastructure

Image courtesy Skanska

Skanska and Black & Veatch signed a contract with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, acting on behalf of the U.S. Air Force, for the design and construction of a new facility at RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire, U.K. Skanska’s portion of the contract is valued at $193 million. Skanska will deliver U.S. Air Force European Infrastructure Consolidation works for the U.S. military based at RAF Molesworth. The work involves construction of a new two-story building along with delivery of supporting infrastructure and a warehouse facility. Design work is currently underway, with construction on site scheduled to begin in the spring of 2024. Completion is expected by the summer of 2028.