Introduction

About the Awards competition

Recognition of forward-looking projects

The LafargeHolcim Awards seeks leading projects of professionals as well as bold ideas from the Next Generation that combine sustainable construction solutions with architectural excellence. The Awards offer a total of USD 2 million in prize money and foreground projects and concepts from architecture, engineering, urban planning, materials science, construction technology, and related fields. 

Two categories within the Awards competition

The Main Awards category is open to architects, engineers, planners, project owners, builders and construction firms for projects at an advanced stage of design with high probability of execution. The Next Generation category for young professionals and students up to 30 years of age seeks visions and bold ideas.

Competition runs in two phases

In the regional phase, independent juries hosted by associated universities of the Foundation evaluate submissions in each of the geographic regions: Europe, North America, Latin America, Middle East Africa, and Asia Pacific. A total of 11 prizes are conferred in each region: 3 Awards and 4 Acknowledgement prizes in the Main category, and 4 prizes in the Next Generation category.

In the global phase, the 15 projects that received Awards in the regional phase automatically qualify for the Global Awards. An independent panel of internationally renowned experts allocates Global Awards Gold, Silver and Bronze. 

Evaluation criteria for the independent juries

To evaluate the competition entries, the LafargeHolcim Foundation has identified five “target issues” for sustainable construction:

• Innovation and transferability – Progress
• Ethical standards and social inclusion – People
• Resource and environmental performance – Planet
• Economic viability and compatibility – Prosperity
• Contextual and aesthetic impact – Place