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