Registration is now open for the 2009 "Concrete Thinking for A Sustainable World" international student design competition.
The contest challenges students to investigate innovative applications of portland-cement-based materials to achieve sustainable designs.
The competition is sponsored by the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA).
It is administered by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), and is open to all ACSA-affiliated schools.
A key element is students' use of design ideas from their studio work to illustrate enhanced building performance resulting from the use of portland-cement-based material.
The competition offers two entry categories:
- Transit Hub: Design an environmentally responsible Public Transportation Center focusing on architectural innovations to preserve tomorrow's resources.
- Building Element: Design a single element of a building that provides a sustainable solution to real-world environmental challenges.
Design concepts can focus on, but are not limited to, sustainable design objectives such as durability, recyclability, reduced site disturbance, storm-water management, heat-island effect, optimized energy performance, indoor air quality, reduced material use, and use of recycled contents.
Winning students, their faculty sponsors, and schools will receive cash prizes and software totaling nearly $50,000.
Each winning school will receive a complete package of StructurePoint software, a retail value of nearly $10,000.
The design jury will convene in June 2009 to select winning projects and honorable mentions.
The deadline to register for the competition is Feb. 9, 2009, and the deadline to submit final entries is June 3.
For a complete competition program guide, visit https://www.acsa-arch.org/competitions/09Concrete.aspx.
