Fourth International Holcim Awards Accepting Entries

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

Entries are open in Holcim's $2-million sustainable construction competition. The regional phase of the International Holcim Awards is open for entries. It seeks leading projects from industry professionals and spirited ideas from the "Next Generation" that contribute to sustainability within architecture, building, civil engineering, landscape and urban design, as well as construction materials and technologies.

This fourth cycle of the competition offers prize money of $2 million. Online registration is possible until March 24, 2014, at www.holcimawards.org.

Independent jury panels of renowned architects and academics evaluate qualified entries against the five "target issues" for sustainable construction which cover economic, social and environmental performance as well as contextual/aesthetic impact, and innovation/transferability. The juries are headed by Jean-Philippe Vassal (for competition region Europe), Toshiko Mori (North America), Bruno Stagno (Latin America), Howayda Al-Harithy (Africa/Middle East) and Rahul Mehrotra (Asia Pacific).

The full list of jury members is available at www.holcimawards.org/juries.

Beyond the Block: Aesthetic Innovations in CMU Construction
August 2026

Concrete masonry units (CMUs) have long been a mainstay of construction. They are well known as a “tried and true” material with a long history of high-strength structural performance, affordability, ease of assembly, and a long lifecycle. CMU constructio

The Most Overlooked Profit Center on Your Job Site
August 2026

The real cost of equipment ownership isn't what you pay on day one. It's what happens over the years that follow. The purchase price of a new mortar mixer, grout pump, material handling system, or masonry saw is only part of the investment. What happens

Installation Starts Before the First Course
August 2026

Some of the most expensive masonry installation problems begin long before crews arrive onsite. By the time a project reaches the field, many coordination decisions have already been made. Dimensional conflicts, congested reinforcement, specialty materia

Designing for Performance: Key Considerations for Efficient, Durable Masonry Projects
August 2026

A successful masonry project starts well before the first stone is set. The craftsmanship on site matters, of course, but many of the decisions that shape the final result are made much earlier—during design, detailing, and material selection. Those choic