August 15, 2008 8:55 AM CDT

Holcim Foundation Joins Forces With International Union of Architects

UIA and Holcim Foundation link together to promote sustainable architecture worldwide

By Holcim (US), Inc.

The International Union of Architects (UIA) and the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction seek to cooperate to inspire better sustainability performance in planning, architecture and building.

The global Holcim Awards competition for architects, engineers and related professions will raise its profile through closer ties to the UIA network of national architects’ associations. The Holcim Awards aims to progressively form a worldwide community of recognized practitioners of excellence in sustainable construction.

The competition celebrates ground-breaking and more sustainable approaches to designing and building houses, working environments and infrastructure, and also includes a “Next Generation” category for young professionals to develop “blue sky” concepts that point the way to the future.

“The Holcim Foundation is delighted to collaborate with the UIA,” said Holcim Foundation Management Board Chairman Markus Akermann. “Sustainable construction is important for everyone in terms of environmental, economic and social progress. Together we will strive to find opportunities at the design and construction phases of building projects to really make a difference and multiply best practice”.

“The UIA has been interested in the activities of the Holcim Foundation since it was established,” said UIA immediate Past President, Gaëtan Siew. “The Holcim Awards competition has a high degree of independence and credibility that meet the competition standards set up by the UIA.”

The UIA Working Program on Sustainable Architecture assists the architectural profession in making an effective contribution to the challenges of sustainability on the local and global scale – and makes available architectural expertise in addressing sustainability. The Holcim Foundation is eager to contribute to the program to provide practicing architects and related professionals with access to information and continuing education on the issues of sustainability.

The UIA is the world’s leading global network dedicated to the architectural profession and has grown to encompass the key professional organizations of architects in over 120 countries, representing more than 1.4 million architects worldwide.

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About the Author

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 approximately 2,000 employees and operates 13 manufacturing plants and 70 distribution facilities in the United States. For more information about Holcim (US), Inc. visit www.holcim.us.