Call summary :

Why does the Holcim Foundation conduct an Awards competition?

The Holcim Foundation conducts the global competition to spotlight real-world case studies that accelerate the global movement for sustainable construction.

The Holcim Foundation is a pioneer of the sustainable design and construction movement. It has served as a beacon of thought leadership for the building industry since 2003.


What are the Holcim Foundation Awards for Sustainable Construction?

The Holcim Foundation Awards are the world’s most significant competition for sustainable design.

The competition offers total prize money of USD 1 million across five regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, and North America. USD 200,000 in prize money per region is allocated to winners in each region.

Independent expert juries for each region will evaluate entries using the Holcim Foundation’s goals for sustainable construction that serve as a road map to drive system change: uplifting places, a healthy planet, viable economics, and thriving communities.


Eligibility

What is a client-supported and/or commissioned project

Projects must be client-supported and/or commissioned by a client with the intention of real-world execution. The Holcim Foundation Awards competition is open only to client-supported projects. Prototypes, installations, proof of concepts, interior design, or projects like databases and online directories are not eligible for entry in the competition.


Can my project already be under construction?

Yes, but construction must not be completed before February 11, 2025. Completion of construction occurs:

For buildings: when a building completion certificate is issued by the relevant local authority.

For landscape projects: when the space is opened for public use.

For infrastructure projects: when commissioning is completed.

Evaluation Criteria

How are projects evaluated?

Entries are evaluated using the Holcim Foundation’s goals for sustainable construction.

The Holcim Foundation believes that a number of interdependent goals and principles for sustainable construction must be understood, mainstreamed, and implemented to succeed in building a better world.

Breakthrough ideas and solutions are needed to accelerate the construction industry’s transformation at speed and scale. These innovative solutions must be transferable to the entire sector to drive further impact. Furthermore, all sustainable building and infrastructure projects must address four interdependent goals with equal conviction:

Uplifting places: Beautiful and spatially relevant structures that work in unison with the local context and culture. Newly designed elements shall be responsive towards the specificities of the place and make an overall positive contribution. Proposals enhance the existing place by leveraging on contextual environmental conditions and biophilia to increase quality and aesthetics.

Healthy planet: Structures that minimize resource use, avoid emissions, and embed solutions to repair ecosystems and restore biodiversity. Resources are used conscientiously, in the logic of minimizing new resources use and carbon footprint. Management of materials, energy, water and waste flows is optimized, while net positive solutions, recovery and regenerative paths are explored and pursued.

Viable economics: Financial planning that combines short term project feasibility with long term circular value creation. Financial planning of projects shall decouple growth from materials and consumption, enabling a circular economy that considers flexibility of use, longevity and reuse. Minimization of externalities and remediation of existing ones, through responsible design practices, are key.

Thriving communities: Inclusive and affordable living environments that cultivate equity, health, and well-being. Projects shall foster socially viable environments, enhancing and rebuilding the social fabric whenever possible, seeking participatory design and informing social equity practices and policies. Fairness and equality of access to services and resources are prerequisites.


Prizes

What is the prize money offered for the Holcim Foundation Awards?

The competition offers total prize money of USD 1 million with USD 200,000 allocated to each of five regions: Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, and North America.

Within each region, the Jury w