Construverde Event and Local Projects Showcase Colombia’s Sustainability Momentum

ISI recently joined industry, finance and infrastructure leaders at Construverde 2026 to explore how sustainability and resilience are shaping better project outcomes in Colombia. President & CEO Anthony Kane moderated a conversation with Cristian Serricchio of Arup, Mónica Bedoya of Egis, and Carolina Restrepo of Bancolombia on the importance of integrating risk management from the earliest stages of project planning.

There was also a panel discussion moderated by Julián González of IDB Invest, which featured Kane and representatives of Indugravas and of ALO Sur sharing their experiences on the role of Envision and other frameworks in promoting infrastructure projects with greater environmental, social and economic value.

Other highlights included a technical visit to the first Envision verified project in Colombia and an in-person ENV SP workshop — providing participants with the opportunity to earn ISI’s internationally recognized credential.

ISI extends a sincere thanks to the host organization, the Colombia Green Building Council (CCCS) for this opportunity to hear insights into capacity building efforts in Colombia, learn how the country is looking to accelerate the transition to more sustainable infrastructure, and connect with leaders who are positioning projects, cities, and communities for a more resilient future.

Below, we take a deeper look at three projects in Colombia where sustainability principles are being applied to address urban, environmental, and community priorities.

---

Urban Renewal in the Capital City 

Corredor Carrera Séptima (Calle 99-127) promises to transform a key city corridor in Bogotá into a more resilient and livable public space. The project responds to the urgent need to reduce congestion and pollution in a city of more than 8 million. At the same time, Bogotá is a city shaped by its relationship with nature. Its eastern hills (Cerros Orientales), Andean forests, wetlands, and high-altitude páramo ecosystems form a remarkable natural system that supports biodiversity, water security, and quality of life. The challenge and opportunity Iie in creating urban spaces that strengthen this connection, bringing the benefits of nature deeper into the city.

One of the main objectives of Corredor Carrera Séptima is therefore to create a pathway to expand walking, cycling, and public transit while advancing decarbonization and climate resilience. The project also strengthens ecological connections between Bogotá and the eastern hills through green infrastructure, expanded urban tree canopy, native species protection, sustainable stormwater management, and biodiversity enhancement.

This project is the first Envision-verified project in Colombia (five other projects in Colombia have since registered to pursue Envision). Following the announcement last year, Alejandra Vargas, Lead ENV SP at Indugravas, said: “We are proud to have helped bring sustainability to life in such an emblematic project as the Carrera Séptima Corridor. Achieving the Envision Award validates our commitment to building infrastructure that not only transforms the city but also protects biodiversity, promotes sustainable mobility, and places communities at the heart of the design.” 

The project brings together Bogotá’s Instituto de Desarrollo Urbano (IDU), TransMilenio, Indugravas, and other partners and is now under construction. Work is underway along the northern section of the corridor, from Calles 99 to 200, a major phase that includes the Envision Silver–verified section (Calles 99–127).

Adding Community Value to Industrial Infrastructure 

While the Corredor Carrera Séptima Project demonstrates how sustainability principles can shape large-scale urban infrastructure, ISI’s engagement with Colombia also extends to community-focused projects that address local needs through partnership. 

Granabastos is a major fresh food market and distribution center in Soledad serving Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Working with Universidad del Atlántico, which owns land associated with the project, the organization plans a community campus to create a stronger link with the surrounding neighborhood, explained Luis Alvarez of Verde Buildings, a key facilitator for the project. The campus will provide vocational training, youth development activities, food assistance, and cultural and recreational activities. 

The project is supported by ISI’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP), with Syracuse University serving as the lead academic partner — providing technical expertise while engaging students through a capstone project focused on the design of the community campus. Through TAP, the Granabastos project team had access to subject matter experts from the university’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and guidance on applying the Envision framework throughout the planning process. 

Universidad del Atlántico faculty and students were also introduced to Envision concepts they can carry forward in different ways: faculty through future engineering and architecture education, and students through their professional careers. “One of the strategic points of this collaboration was that we could have an academic team involved with the project, and that makes a huge difference,” said Alvarez, a senior lecturer in the university’s School of Architecture, his alma mater. You are not only impacting one owner or designer, but also academics who can spread that knowledge.” 

Participation led to unexpected knowledge sharing across disciplines, Alvarez said. For example, Syracuse University proposed incorporating an anaerobic biodigester to turn food waste generated at the center into biogas. Building on that concept, a Universidad del Atlántico researcher suggested integrating black soldier fly larvae, which can pre-process the organic waste while producing protein for animal feed and organic fertilizer. Rather than pointing to a single solution, the discussion highlighted how different approaches can recover value from organic waste while also revealing the sustainability trade-offs involved in pursuing different outcomes. 

Beyond the technical solutions explored, TAP involvement helped elevate the project’s social value and community benefits, particularly through Envision’s emphasis on leadership and stakeholder engagement. As Alvarez explained, “Envision opens up an opportunity for enhancing the governance of projects, strengthening leadership, and pushing you toward better processes and broader participation.”   

Leveraging Transportation Investment to Create Public Space 

While Soledad, near Barranquilla, is a rapidly growing urban center on Colombia’s Caribbean coast shaped by logistics, commerce, and food distribution, the Malecón Puente Sogamoso Project (loosely translated as Sogamoso Bridge Waterfront Promenade Project) serves a very different context. It is located in Puerto Wilches, where livelihoods have long been tied to agriculture, fishing, and natural resources.  

A planned vehicle-pedestrian bridge across the Sogamoso River will link Puerto Wilches more directly to Barrancabermeja and the broader regional transportation network. The bridge is part of the broader rehabilitation of the La Dorada–Chiriguaná Railway Corridor, a strategic Public-Private Partnership led by Colombia’s National Infrastructure Agency (Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura, ANI). 

“The riverfront project in Puerto Wilches is an opportunity to ensure that the benefits of this major transportation investment extend directly to the local community,” says ISI’s Abdel Mustafa, TAP Program Co-Lead. “It pairs improved regional connectivity with a public space that will support the local economy and improve quality of life.” 

Like Granabastos, the Malecón Puente Sogamoso Project was selected as a TAP project for 2025–2026. Faculty and students from TAP academic partner Rice University have worked alongside the project team to help inform the design. The effort began with the project team’s initial vision for a linear public space approximately 100 meters long and 30 meters wide, with features such as pathways, lighting, signage, green areas, urban furniture, and dedicated spaces for local vendors.  

Mustafa explains that, in essence, the project aims to transform a riverbank area already used by residents but that lacks adequate infrastructure, organization, and public amenities. Through TAP, Envision is providing a framework for strengthening the project’s sustainability, resilience, and community benefits. 

Together, these projects—from Bogotá’s urban transformation corridor to Soledad’s Caribbean food distribution hub and the river community of Puerto Wilches—demonstrate how Envision-aligned infrastructure can advance sustainability while creating benefits tailored to the unique needs of the places and people it serves.