Sustainable Projects Compete for Millions, International Competition

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Waltham, Ma. – Construction projects from all across North America are invited to compete for the widely recognized Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction. The Holcim Awards will recognize projects that meet current needs for housing and infrastructure without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The Holcim Awards, an international competition, is an initiative of the Swiss-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction to celebrate innovative, future-oriented, and tangible sustainable construction projects from around the globe. The Holcim Awards are supported in the North America region by the Holcim Ltd Group companies Holcim (US) Inc., St. Lawrence Cement, and Aggregate Industries. The North American region includes the US, Canada, Bermuda and the Bahamas.
Waltham, Ma. – Construction projects from all across North America are invited to compete for the widely recognized Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction. The Holcim Awards will recognize projects that meet current needs for housing and infrastructure without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.The Holcim Awards, an international competition, is an initiative of the Swiss-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction to celebrate innovative, future-oriented, and tangible sustainable construction projects from around the globe. The Holcim Awards are supported in the North America region by the Holcim Ltd Group companies Holcim (US) Inc., St. Lawrence Cement, and Aggregate Industries. The North American region includes the US, Canada, Bermuda and the Bahamas.“Holcim is committed to supporting and promoting advances in sustainable construction,” said Patrick Dolberg, chief executive officer of Holcim (US). “We hope everyone working to develop sustainable solutions will participate to earn national and global recognition for their innovation.”The Holcim Awards competition is open to anyone involved in planning, design, or development of a sustainable construction project, including architects, planners, engineers, or project owners. All building projects are eligible for the competition if the project has not commenced execution prior to June 1, 2007. There are no construction materials requirements or restrictions on the types of projects, as long as they embody the environmental, economic and social values of sustainable construction.Prize money will total $2 million for the 2008-2009 competition. Regional prizes range from $10,000 to $100,000, with the Global Holcim Awards ranging from $50,000 to $300,000. Nominations and entries in the competition will be accepted until February 29, 2008 at www.holcimawards.org.Add One/Holcim AwardsA special category of the awards competition is open for project visions at a conceptual level, during an early stage of design, or with a low probability of execution. In addition, the “Next Generation” category is open for professionals younger than 35 years of age. Juries will award three Next Generation prizes at the regional level.Winners of the Holcim Awards North American regional competition (except Next Generation), selected in 2008, will advance to the global competition to be held in 2009.Award applicants are evaluated by independent juries in five regions of the world, including North America, using a five-point definition of sustainable construction. These “target issues” serve as a benchmark to measure the degree to which a building contributes to sustainable development. They include:²     Quantum change and transferability²     Ethical standards and social equity²     Ecological quality and energy conservation²     Economic performance and compatibility²     Contextual and aesthetic impactDetailed descriptions of each target issue and a full list of the members of each jury are available on www.holcimawards.org. Comprehensive information on the competition is also available. All entries must be submitted online in English only.The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction is supported by Holcim Ltd but is independent of its commercial interests. Holcim Ltd is one of the world's leading suppliers of cement and aggregates (crushed stone, gravel, and sand) as well as further activities such as ready-mix concrete and asphalt including services. The Holcim Group holds majority and minority interests in more than 70 countries on all continents and employs almost 90,000 people.Holcim (US) Inc. is a subsidiary of Holcim Ltd, and one of the nation’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of cement and mineral components. Holcim (US) has 2,400 employees and operates 14 manufacturing plants and over 70 distribution facilities in the United States.St. Lawrence Cement, a company of the Holcim Group, is a leading producer and supplier of products and services for the construction industry, namely cement, concrete, aggregates, and construction. The company operates in Canada and on the eastern seaboard of the United States, and employs a total of 3,200 people. Aggregate Industries, a subsidiary of Holcim Ltd, is an environmentally responsible producer of high-quality aggregate-based construction materials in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company produces aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, concrete products, and asphalt (and related contracting services) in seven regional businesses in the United States and employs over 6,000 people.