Project Snapshot:
Title: Granabastos Community Campus
Location: Soledad, Atlantico, Colombia
Project Owner: Granabastos
Project Sector: Land/Environmental
Project Type: Stormwater, Energy
TAP Cohort: 2025-2026
Envision Verification Status: Not Yet Registered
Academic Support:
University: Syracuse University
Faculty Lead: Svetoslava Todorova, PhD, BCEEM, ENV SP
Environmental Engineering Program Director
Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
Project Summary:
Granabastos, a major fresh food market and distribution center for the Caribbean coast of Colombia, is committed to sustainability and community development through impactful environmental and social initiatives. Through its “Good Neighbor” program, Granabastos provides support such as vocational training, youth development activities, and food assistance — helping to build social cohesion and create opportunities targeting economically distressed communities. This project consists of a community campus to foster social inclusion, education, and opportunity for children, youth, and families. The center will also provide spaces for technical and vocational training, cultural and recreational activities, and community support programs that strengthen local resilience and improve the quality of life. The proposed community campus plans to generate much of its energy from solar power, reduce food waste through donation or composting, and incorporate efficient water management and treatment systems.
Plan for Envision:
The project team plans to use Envision to guide the development of the community campus and pursue Envision verification as a way to validate its commitment to sustainable and inclusive infrastructure. Applying the framework will help ensure the project delivers long-term social, environmental, and economic value while addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. Verification will also provide greater transparency, strengthen the project’s credibility, and help attract potential partners and funding, positioning the campus as a model for responsible development in the region.
Academic Engagement:
The Granabastos Community Campus project team partnered with Syracuse University through a civil engineering capstone design project to incorporate Envision into the student design process. Students assessed applicable Envision credits, evaluated design alternatives, and prepared the relevant credit cover sheets and supporting documentation. Their design work explored opportunities to incorporate sustainable features including on-site solar energy, composting, stormwater management, and efficient potable water use. The project was recognized as Syracuse University’s Best Capstone Project during Design Day in April 2026.
“Envision makes projects better not just by reducing energy or using sustainable materials; it does mainly by fostering collaboration and putting the community and society overall first.”– Luis Alvarez, MSc, PMP, LEED AP BD+C/Homes, SEP, SITES AP, ENV SP, Verde Buildings
“When I first started my collegiate career here at Syracuse, I never would have imagined that my senior Capstone project would be located in my home country of Colombia. It has been an honor to both contribute to and win with such an impactful project, and I am forever grateful to Syracuse University and the CEE department for this opportunity to connect my career with my roots.”– Gabriella Terry, ENV SP, Environmental Engineering Student at Syracuse University
Project Updates
