M99 Tower: Apave supports the Constructa Group in its environmental approach

Top News10/14/2025

On the quays of Arenc in Marseille, construction of the Tour M99 has begun. The 99-meter-high tower is classified as a high-rise building (IGH). The Constructa Group chose Apave to support its environmental certification and labeling process for this building of singular characteristics and dimensions. Enzo Boretti, Director of Development and Major Projects at Constructa, explains their approach.

The M99 Tower

a bold project

The M99 Tower is the final stage in the Quais d'Arenc project, due to start in 2020. It is part of a project to redevelop a former warehouse site in the heart of the port area. Constructa has gradually realized its vision with the creation of a neighborhood - 3 buildings have already been delivered - that rises skyward and turns towards the sea, redesigning the city's skyline.

"Since 2020, I've been involved in setting up and overseeing several complex Constructa Group operations, including the M99 project. The Constructa Group's expertise is illustrated in four complementary fields: development, marketing, asset management and construction", says Enzo Boretti (EB).

The Tour M99 is a 99-metre high building, and is therefore classified as an IGH (Immeuble de Grande Hauteur) for mixed residential use.This mixed-use building comprises 102 exceptional residential units, a 96-unit student residence and a 130-room hotel with panoramic restaurant.

These technical specifications integrate all the components of sustainable development: comfort, acoustics, energy, outdoor spaces (a building cooled and heated by the Thassalia seawater loop, a facade composed of elements manufactured off-site in white concrete, outdoor spaces proposedThese include a building cooled and heated by the Thassalia seawater loop, a facade composed of white concrete elements manufactured off-site, outdoor spaces on most levels, balconies positioned to optimize solar protection according to the season, a green roof accessible to residents, and an open-ground garden recreated at the rear of the building.)

The role of Apave teams

as environmental consultants

"Some fifteen years ago, the Constructa Group decided to certify its real estate projects more systematically, and so we began to call on Apave for environmental AMO (Assistance à Maîtrise d'Ouvrage) assignments and support in obtaining labels and certifications. So it was only natural that we should turn to Apave to renew this type of assignment for M99.

The BEE/BEE+ label was chosen for the social student residence, so it made sense, in particular to optimize charges and comfort for future residents. For the hotel component, we chose BREEAM Level Very Good certification, an internationally recognized certification that we feel is the most appropriate. We're located on the quays of Arenc, at the heart of Euroméditerranée, an operation of national interest with international scope, so it's an obvious commitment to quality for Constructa Les Éditeurs Urbains."

Environmental certifications and labels

more than just market demand

"These approaches bring real added value to real estate assets. It's no longer just a market demand, but a real commitment for us as project owners, as well as for investors, operators and users.

They also contribute to environmental performance, which makes sense for everyone involved in the project, as well as minimizing operating costs over the long term.
We also see multiple benefits in terms of both project design and implementation: sustainability of buildings, user comfort, control of consumption, cleaner building sites, implementation of selective sorting, integration of the project to facilitate connection to urban mobility networks...

The fact that the certification process includes an audit and monitoring during the construction phase lends even greater legitimacy and confidence to the approach. Finally, it's a real recognition by institutional clients."

Enhanced support

"Apave acts as the link with the certifier, which saves an enormous amount of time in project management. They have the appropriate expertise and tools for both French and international projects. It's a real specialty, requiring resources that we're not likely to have in-house on an ongoing basis.

Pre-auditing is also an important area of expertise, and Apave's teams help us to target the certification we need, depending on the project and our ambitions.

One of the Group's strengths is its ability to tailor its offer to our needs, and to offer a 360° vision of environmental support. Their level of expertise and responsive, professional teams have enabled us to build a partnership based on trust."

An environmental approach

as part of the Group's ambition

"Over the past 3 years, we have set up a dedicated CSR unit, carried out our first Group carbon assessment, and developed roadmaps with emission reduction targets for all our support services, as well as for our property management and development businesses. roadmaps with emission reduction targets in all our support services, as well as in property management and development. We have equipped ourselves with training and a specific decision-making tool to help us understand the impact of certain decisions on a project's GHG emissions. To develop this tool, we carried out a complete and detailed carbon assessment of the construction and lifecycle phases of a residential program in Marseille. At the time, we called on Apave to help us collect the necessary data.

In conclusion: "Apave is a solid, long-standing group, a benchmark player in France and internationally. We are ready to entrust them with new missions."