A Look Back at the GC-CD Challenge
For its 9th edition, the Civil Engineering – Sustainable Construction Challenge was held at the IUT in Nîmes from June 10 to 12: 31 student teams from IUTs across France enjoyed a friendly and engaging experience during this competition, which focused on two themes: Building and Public Works. 190 students, faculty members, and professionals, as well as all students from the GCCD department, attended the candidates’ presentations.
Organized by Caroline Denhez and the teams in the Civil Engineering Department she heads, the event took place under bright sunshine, giving participants the opportunity to explore the city of Nîmes in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The students worked on two projects prepared by Éric Pradier, a faculty member in the department:
- Topic No. 1 (Architecture): Design and digital modeling of a development project for the Nîmes University Institute of Technology
- Topic No. 2 (Civil Engineering): Incorporation of site-generated or reused materials into a building project
The first day began with an energetic welcome, featuring participation in preliminary activities followed by sports and recreational events. The projects were presented to the public in the IUT’s Halle Béton on Wednesday, June 11, throughout the morning, and the afternoon was devoted to workshops exploring the construction of rammed earth walls, straw bale walls, and low-carbon concrete, as well as a workshop on augmented reality to compare the completed projects with real-world conditions.
The day ended on a high note with a gala evening at the Musée de la Romanité, attended by Philippe Augé, president of the University of Montpellier.
On Thursday, June 12, the judges deliberated, and several awards were presented to recognize the quality of the submitted works.
The winners
Professional jury or jury of finalists: 6 teams in the running
Topic #1 – Construction
- Saint-Pierre University Institute of Technology – Bachelor's Degree in Applied Sciences (BUT 3)
- Bordeaux 1 University Institute of Technology – BUT 3
- Reims University Institute of Technology – Bachelor of Applied Science (BUT) 2
Architecture Award: Reims University of Technology
Topic #2 – Urban Planning
- La Rochelle University Institute of Technology – Bachelor's Degree in Applied Sciences (BUT 3)
- IUT de Nîmes 2 – BUT 2
- Tarbes University Institute of Technology – Bachelor of Applied Science (BUT) 2
Interior Design Award: La Rochelle University of Technology
Jury's Favorite: Tarbes University Institute of Technology
Student Jury: 6 teams competing for a single prize
Topic #1 – Construction
- Saint-Nazaire University Institute of Technology – Bachelor's Degree in Applied Sciences (BUT 3)
- Bordeaux 2 University Institute of Technology – BUT 3
- La Rochelle University Institute of Technology – Bachelor's Degree in Applied Sciences (BUT 3)
Topic #2 – Urban Planning
- Rennes University Institute of Technology – Bachelor of Applied Science (BUT) 3
- Egletons University Institute of Technology – BUT 2
- Cergy University Institute of Technology – Bachelor's Degree in Applied Sciences (BUT 2)
Student Awards: La Rochelle University Institute of Technology (IUT) – Architecture Category
Tied for 5th place overall in the challenge:
- Saint-Pierre University Institute of Technology – BUT 3 (Construction Track)
- Bordeaux 1 University Institute of Technology – BUT 3 (Construction Track)
- Nîmes 2 University Institute of Technology – BUT 2 (Urban Planning track)
- Rennes University Institute of Technology – Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in Urban Planning
Congratulations to all the candidates!
Thank you all for the great atmosphere, the organization, and the good spirits.
The next event is scheduled for 2027 in Rennes.
The department and the IUT would like to thank all the companies that sponsored the challenge for their support and commitment.
