SKOKIE, Ill.--The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and the Portland Cement Association (PCA) announce the “Concrete Thinking for a Sustainable World” international student design competition. Sponsored by PCA and administered by ACSA, students will be challenged to investigate an innovative application of portland cement-based materials to achieve sustainable design objectives. The competition is open to all ACSA-affiliated schools around the world, including Canada.

Unlike other competitions, the scope is for a portion of an academic term and not for an entire course or thesis. Students also have the flexibility to provide solutions as a single element of a building or a comprehensive building design.

“We look forward to the innovative ways students will use concrete and other cement-based materials in their designs. Hopefully their experience will make them career-long proponents of sustainable development and their cement-based solutions will inspire the entire architect community,” said David Shepherd, director of sustainable development for PCA. “Concrete’s durability, energy efficiency and versatility make it an ideal building material for sustainable designed buildings and communities.”

Design concepts can focus on, but are not limited to, such sustainable design objectives as:
• durability,
• recyclability,
• reduced site disturbance,
• storm water management,
• heat island effect,
• optimized energy performance,
• indoor air quality,
• material use reductions, and
• recycled content use.

Winning students, their faculty sponsors, and schools will receive cash prizes and software totaling nearly $40,000. The prize includes a complete package of pcaStructurePoint©, concrete design software, a retail value of $9,745, for each winning school. The design jury will convene in May 2006 to select winning projects and honorable mentions.

The deadline to register for the competition is Feb. 8, 2006, and the deadline to submit final entries is May 3, 2006.

For complete a complete competition program please visit www.acsa-arch.org.

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.

About ACSA
Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1912 to enhance the quality of architectural education. School membership in ACSA has grown from 10 charter schools to over 200 schools in several membership categories. Through these schools, over 4,500 architecture faculty are represented in ACSA’s membership. ACSA, unique in its representative role for professional schools of architecture, provides a major forum for ideas on the leading edge of architectural thought. Issues that will affect the architectural profession in the future are being examined today in ACSA member schools.