Holcim: Construction Submissions up 140 Percent

Media Release

New Zealand Sustainable Construction Submissions up 140 Percent

13 March 2008 - The Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction continue to encourage sustainable construction projects in New Zealand and around the world. The just-completed awards submission process saw the number of accepted New Zealand submissions jump more than 140 percent over the previous awards cycle in 2005-2006.

A total of 12 submissions from New Zealand were accepted this year after meeting all the formal requirements, up from five accepted in the last Holcim Awards held in 2005-2006. Overall, Holcim Awards applications from around the world grew 59 percent, from 3,004 during the 2005-2006 awards competition to 4,774 in 2008-2009, demonstrating increased awareness among architects, planners, engineers, students, and others in the construction field.

"We have experienced a high level of interest in the competition, both from people keen to put forward an entry and from others wanting to tap into new thinking in sustainable design and construction,” said Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd Managing Director, Jeremy Smith. "As a company we are committed to encouraging and supporting sustainable approaches to construction."

The Holcim Awards seek to encourage and inspire designs that meet current needs for housing and infrastructure, as well as create innovative, future oriented, and tangible sustainable construction projects around the world. This year’s competition included a new category encouraging “blue sky” concepts from young professionals under 35 years old. The competition is an initiative of the Swiss-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction and is supported in New Zealand by Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd.

The deadline for submitting a project for consideration was 29 February 2008. Of the 4,774 projects that were submitted, 1,875 met the formal requirements for consideration. That number is up from the previous awards cycle, when a total of 3,004 entries were submitted, with 1,450 meeting the formal requirements.

A total of US $2 million in prize money will be awarded for the 2008-2009 competition. Entries from New Zealand go forward to an Asia Pacific regional competition. The results of the regional competitions will be announced in five ceremonies in late 2008 in Madrid, Montréal, Mexico City, Marrakech and New Delhi. Winners of the gold, silver and bronze awards from each geographic region are automatically qualified for the global Holcim Awards to be announced 2009 following an additional in-depth evaluation by a jury comprised of international experts.

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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-mixed concrete and asphalt and related services. The Holcim Group holds majority and minority interests in more than 70 countries on all continents, and employs approximately 90,000 people.

Holcim New Zealand is a subsidiary of Holcim Ltd, and is a leading New Zealand supplier of cement, aggregates, ready mixed concrete and lime. Its involvement in the New Zealand building industry dates back to 1888, and today it operates more than 35 sites and employs approximately 530 people.

ENDS

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