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 contest.
The international LafargeHolcim contest 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. The fifth edition which commenced on July 4, 2016, is seeking smart solutions for cities and the built environment.
The Group Managing Director/CEO of Lafarge Africa Plc, 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 therefore 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 urbanisation 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 $2 million Awards competition, which opened on Monday July 4, 2016 and closes for submissions on March 21, 2017.
According to the company, 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, pointing out that 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.
The company noted that participants that are up to the age of 30 years can also submit visionary concepts and bold ideas in the competition, irrespective of the probability of actual implementation of the project, emphasising that 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 Africa. 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. b
