Three new directors for Executive Masters in Construction and Energy

École nationale des ponts et chaussées has appointed three new directors to head its Executive Masters: Mathieu Arquier for Civil Engineering and Ecodesign, Gilles Forest for BIM – Integrated Design and the Life Cycle of Buildings and Infrastructure, and Pierre Aubry for Management of Energy Projects. Drawing on their experience in engineering, the digital transformation of the construction sector and the management of energy projects, their remit will be to continue developing these programmes and adapting them to changes in the industry and the needs of businesses.

Mathieu Arquier, new director of the Civil Engineering and Ecodesign Executive Master

Mathieu Arquier, an affiliated professor in the School’s Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, teaches the structural dynamics course in the ENPC engineering program, lectures in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials, and also contributes to the continuing education programs offered by Ponts Formation Conseil. He succeeds Robert Le Roy as director of the Specialized Master’s® in Civil Engineering and Eco-Design. As co-founder and co-director of STRAINS, a consulting firm specializing in civil engineering and the analysis of complex structures, he has also led the European Executive Master’s program “Digital Twins for Infrastructures and Cities” since 2023, a joint initiative of the École nationale des ponts et chaussées, the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). In 2021, he received the award from the French Civil Engineering Association (AFGC).
A graduate of the École Polytechnique and later the École nationale des ponts et chaussées, Mathieu Arquier began his career at SETEC TPI as a structural engineer. He notably contributed to the development of the Pythagore structural analysis software and to the external inspection of major structures such as the Russky Bridge and the Third Bosphorus Bridge. In 2014, he co-founded STRAINS and has since worked on a variety of projects, including project management for the repair of the Cézy Bridge, structural verification for the Grenland Bridge, and the Saint-Maur–Créteil and Noisy-Champs stations of the Grand Paris Express. He is also involved in the development of DS Steel and DS Concrete, a software suite for nonlinear structural analysis. He has also taught at CentraleSupélec, CHEC, and CNAM.
A long-standing program at the School, the Specialized Master’s® in Civil Engineering and Eco-Design is a 600-hour program accredited by the Conférence des grandes écoles (CGE), which requires a high level of proficiency in structural analysis. It combines this expertise with the challenges of eco-design and specifically incorporates the maintenance of major structures, bio-based materials, and life cycle assessment (LCA). The program is a one-year full-time program, with the option to complete it part-time over two years. Mathieu Arquier aims to anchor the program’s excellence in a pedagogical approach that integrates the ecological and digital transitions across all disciplines.

Gilles Forest, dirctor of the BIM – Integrated Design and the Life Cycle of Buildings and Infrastructure Executive Master

A computer scientist by training, Gilles Forest has 40 years of experience in the digital transformation of the construction industry. A professor at ESTP, among other institutions, he has been teaching for several years in the MS BIM program, from which he himself is a graduate. He is also an associate lecturer at ENSAG in computational design. As an entrepreneur and computational designer in architecture, he combines digital expertise with knowledge of professional practices.
He succeeds Olivier Celnik, who had led the Specialized Master’s® in BIM since its launch. Celnik will remain active within the program’s community and continue his work as an architect.
Jointly offered by the School and ESTP, the Specialized Master’s® in BIM program, “Integrated Design and Life Cycle of Buildings and Infrastructure,” was launched in 2014. Accredited by the CGE, this program is widely recognized within the industry. It is based on a collaborative project methodology centered on the digital model, which has now been adopted by architects, engineering firms, project managers, and building owners. Gilles Forest plans to integrate the latest technological advances into the educational model, at the intersection of BIM, digital twins, and computational design.

Pierre Aubry, director of the Management of Energy Projects Executive Master

An ESTP engineer with thirty-five years of professional experience spanning the full lifecycle of infrastructure projects in numerous countries, Pierre Aubry is currently Chief Administrative Officer at Areva. He succeeds Louis-François Durret, founder of the Specialized Master’s® in Management of Energy Projects (MEP), who now heads the new Specialized Master’s® in Critical Materials (CM). A faculty member of the program since its inception, Pierre Aubry notably co-created the “Case Study,” an educational exercise that forms the core of the program for several months.

Taught in English, the MS MEP trains high-level professionals, recruited internationally, in project management and execution within the energy sector. Launched in 2019, this program plays an important role in addressing the skills needs associated with the energy transition. Accredited by the CGE, it is also certified by the National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP), allowing for funding through the Personal Training Account (CPF), subject to applicable conditions.

Courses rooted in developments within their respective sectors

With these appointments, the School is drawing on experienced academics and professionals to lead its Executive Masters. Structural analysis and eco-design, numerical modelling of construction projects, and energy project management: these three programmes support the transformations taking place in their respective sectors by combining technical expertise, a digital approach and an understanding of operational challenges. In total, the Executive Masters meet the needs of businesses and professionals seeking to develop their skills or support a career change.