LafargeHolcim to Hold USD2m Sustainable Construction competition

Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading Sub-Saharan Africa building materials company and a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim, a world leader in building materials operating in Nigeria has commenced mobilization of professionals in Nigeria’s built sector and students for participation in the 5th International LafargeHolcim Awards. Commencing on July 4, 2016; this edition is seeking smart solutions for cities and the built environment.

The LafargeHolcim Awards is the most significant global competition in sustainable design. It requests leading projects of professionals as well as bold ideas from the Next Generation that combine sustainable construction solutions with architectural excellence.

Lafarge Africa Plc’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Michel Puchercos said, “we are pleased to showcase Nigeria’s professionals and students in this competition for the first time after our global merger as a demonstration of our belief in their competence and ability to compete favourably with their counterparts across the globe, and in furtherance of our vision to build a stronger Nigeria safely, ethically and sustainably through innovative construction solutions”. He enjoined all eligible engineers, architects, builders, planners, construction firms, project owners, students and NGOs to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a mark in the global construction space, while assuring that there will be more engagements with the target audience in the next few weeks.

Organised by the LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction, the competition identifies the ideas with the highest potential to tackle today’s challenges to increasing urbanization and to improve quality of life. Projects and concepts from the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, planning, technology, and civil and materials engineering are eligible to be entered online in the USD2 million Awards competition, which opened on Monday July 4, 2016 and closes for submissions on March 21, 2017.

The main category is for professionals, construction firms and NGOs that showcase sustainable responses to technological, environmental, socio-economic and cultural issues within contemporary building and construction. Projects must have reached an advanced stage of design, have a high probability of execution, and may not have started construction before July 4, 2016.

Participants up to the age of 30 years of age can also submit visionary concepts and bold ideas in the competition, irrespective of the probability of actual implementation of the project: the Next Generation category specifically seeks “blue-sky” solutions by students and young professionals.
The competition holds in the five geographic regions where LafargeHolcim operates – Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Middle East Afica –The winners will be announced in the second half of 2017. Winners automatically qualify for the global Awards competition in 2018. Past winners include a Nigerian, Kunle Adeyemi who won with his Chicoco Radio project entry in Port Harcourt.

Entry in the competition is free. A comprehensive “Step-by-step” guide explains the evaluation criteria in detail and gives instructions on how to prepare an entry at www.lafargeholcim-awards.org.