3rd Annual Conference on Foundation Decarbonization and Re-use – A Look Back

The 3rd Annual Conference on Foundation Decarbonization and Re-use, held from 24 - 26 March 2026 in Amsterdam, brought together professionals from across the construction and geotechnical sectors to address one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: reducing CO₂ emissions. Building on the success of the previous editions in 2023 and 2024, this third conference proved to be both highly relevant and well attended.

Throughout the event, participants explored strategies to lower the carbon footprint of foundation engineering, with a strong emphasis on efficient design, reducing the use of concrete and steel, and prioritizing the reuse of existing foundations wherever possible. The programme was structured around four thematic sessions, covering decision-making processes, inspection and testing methods, design approaches, and construction practices related to decarbonization and reuse.

Each session featured keynote speakers alongside contributions from international experts, fostering insightful discussions and active engagement during the extended Q&A sessions. The exchange of knowledge and practical experience highlighted both the challenges and opportunities within the field.

The conference concluded with a third-day walking tour through Amsterdam, where participants visited project sites and explored real-world applications of foundation reuse. This excursion provided valuable context and further strengthened connections among attendees.

Overall, the conference was a great success, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and innovation in advancing sustainable practices within the foundation industry.

Presentations of the speakers:

Session 1

Keynote session 1: Decarbonisation and lifetime extension of quay walls – Alfred Roubos (Port of Rotterdam)
Approach to Evaluate Foundation Reuse – Anastasia Poliacik (WSP)
Collective foundation restoration: cheaper, smarter, and feasible – Paulien Neppelenbroek (De Bouwdirigent)
 Our national foundation challenge and the need for innovation –Bart Brink (TKI Bouw en Techniek)
Approach for Future Foundation Reuse – Marcel Bielefeld (Allnamics)
Standards, codes, regulations and their impact on our capacity to re-think our model – Maurice Bottiau (DFI-EU, EFFC)

Session 2

The inspection and testing of existing foundations to assess their suitability for reuse - Dr. Ernst Niederleithinger
Assessment of Existing Concrete Foundations for Suitability of Reuse: A Case Study on Furnace Foundation Walls – Hamed Layssi (FPrimeC Solutions Inc.)
Can an 18-Story Building Rise to 24 on Its Existing Foundation? – Rune Tranborg Tuxen (DMT)
Approach to Evaluate Existing Foundations for Reuse  – Anastasia Poliacik (WSP) 
Timber piles under bridges are stronger than we thought – Geeralt van den Ham (Gemeente Amsterdam) 
Algorithm to Calculate Capacity of Existing Timber Piles – Rob Brinkman (Deltares)

Session 3
The Ground Beneath Our Assumptions - Leonard Sands (Fugro)
Re-use and Reinforcement of Existing Piled Foundations – Freddy Lopez (TIROLER ROHRE GmbH)
Integrated Load Rating for Bridge Foundation Reuse – Sayed Sayed (GCI INC.)
Avoidance of unnecessary material installation by varying all possible pile foundation variants – Ingo Hylla (Hylla)
A case study on maximizing the reuse of existing building and its foundations – Rajasekar Subbian (ARUP) 
Case study – Restoration of the viaduct over the river Arve in Bonneville (France) – Charles Bernuy (SETEC group)
Load Testing for Foundation Reuse  – Rob van Dorp (Allnamics)

Session 4
Decarbonization and Reuse of Steel Foundations - Jack Paesschen (ArcelorMittal)
Life Cycle Assessment of Underground Car Parks – Case study – Brazil – João Martins (ArcelorMittal)
Environmental Impact of Foundation Piles: Analysis and Reduction Strategies – Sakshi Singh (ABT)    
Retrofitting foundation equipment into a sustainable solution – Marc Timmerman (Van den Heuvel Werkendam)
Improving Deep Foundations: The use of innovative technologies to reduce the carbon footprint – Mario Terceros (Geoexpand)
Press-in Piling Technology as a Pathway to Decarbonized Foundation Construction – Hamidou H. TAMBOURA (Giken) 
EFFC-DFI sustainability guides – Luke Deamer (EFFC-DFI)