We’re incorporating a pioneering solution into the construction of the new Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff (Wales, United Kingdom): bricks made from construction waste.

In 2023, the Scottish firm Kenoteq won our open innovation program, Sacyr iChallenges. The collaboration between the two companies led to the creation of the K-Briq brick, which is now helping Velindre become one of the most sustainable hospitals in the United Kingdom.

“This technology, developed to promote the circular economy, has found a real-world application in a flagship Sacyr project,” explains Vincenzo Nigro, Technical Manager at the Velindre Cancer Centre.

The hospital will incorporate approximately 1,000 m² of these low-carbon-footprint bricks, equivalent to about 60,000 units and more than 151 metric tons of material.

 

“What makes K-Briq particularly innovative is its composition. These bricks are made from more than 90% recycled construction and demolition waste, which eliminates the need for new raw materials,” adds Vincenzo.

Its production process eliminates the traditional firing of ceramic bricks, drastically reducing the energy required for manufacturing and bringing its carbon footprint to less than 5% of that of a conventional brick.

Their performance has been verified through tests conducted in accordance with various British and European standards and is backed by BBA Agrément Certificate 25/7367.

These tests certify aspects such as their mechanical strength, fire performance, durability, and resistance to moisture, confirming their suitability for use in construction. Furthermore, the bricks maintain their performance even after freeze-thaw cycles, a critical factor for their use in the United Kingdom.

At the new Velindre Cancer Centre, the bricks will be installed in the Service Yard, the utilities area, and the Facility Management area. Their use will have a significant impact on the project’s overall sustainability.

“Examples like this demonstrate that open innovation is a key tool for accelerating the sustainable transformation of the construction industry. It allows us to identify, validate, and incorporate solutions that reduce the environmental impact of construction without compromising technical performance,” concludes Vincenzo.

Sacyr Concesiones is putting circular pavement maintenance to the test on the Autovía del Eresma (A-601). Along a one-kilometer stretch, the concessionaire has reused milled asphalt from the existing roadway as feedstock for a new surface course.

The paving works incorporate 30% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) from the highway’s aged wearing course into the new bituminous mix—double the 15% currently recommended by regulations for this type of layer.

A field test with long-term potential

The pilot section, located between kilometer markers 81 and 82 in direction to Segovia, is designed to prove that today’s recycled asphalt technology can increase RAP content in surface mixes without compromising ride quality, durability or overall pavement performance.

“On this pilot section, we are cutting the amount of virgin aggregate needed in the mix,” said Miguel Ángel Moreno, from Sacyr Concesiones’ Pavements Department. “We also reduce material sent to landfill and lower the carbon footprint associated with asphalt production,” he added.

The trial will allow the team to track the mix in service, monitor its long-term behavior and assess whether the approach can be scaled to future maintenance campaigns.

“We want to see how this mix holds up in the field and whether the solution is sustainable, technically viable and cost-effective over time,” said Ángel Delgado, manager of the Autovía del Eresma.

Technology and collaboration drive the pavement trial

The recycled asphalt mix—a BBTM 11B gap-graded surface mix with 30% RAP—was manufactured at Padecasa’s plant in Aldeavieja, Ávila.

The project brings together the Regional Government of Castile and León, Sacyr’s Pavements Department, Sacyr Concesiones’ Innovation team and Padecasa. It builds on a 2024 test section that used 15% RAP, the maximum share currently recommended for this type of wearing course.

The initiative supports circular economy targets and aligns with Castile and León’s regulatory framework, which requires at least 3% of aggregates used in pavement rehabilitation works to come from recycled materials.

With pilots like this, Sacyr continues to test lower-impact road maintenance solutions that conserve natural resources, reduce waste and support more sustainable infrastructure management.
 

Measuring 3.2 kilometers long and 38 meters wide, the Pumarejo Bridge is the widest cable-stayed bridge in Latin America. Its construction posed a significant technical challenge and required the use of innovative solutions, such as a large-scale self-climbing formwork system, which enabled the structure to be built while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and efficiency.

Spanning the Magdalena River, this structure has become a symbol of Barranquilla and the Colombian Caribbean, improving mobility and connectivity while contributing to the region’s economic development.

The Pumarejo Bridge is a testament to engineering, but also to the talent, innovation, and commitment of our professionals. It is a project that reflects our ability to tackle major challenges and build infrastructure that connects regions, creates opportunities, and leaves a lasting legacy.

Four decades after our founding, we continue to celebrate the projects and, above all, the people who have made these 40 years of Sacyr possible.