Goal and objectives
The International Union of Architects (UIA) and Holcim Foundation signed an agreement in July, 2008 to seek to cooperate on promoting sustainability in planning, architecture and building – and to bring architects in closer contact with the construction industry.

Holcim Awards competition
The UIA network will be of help to promote the Holcim Awards competition for sustainable construction projects and visions, and other initiatives of the Holcim Foundation. The Holcim Awards showcase a range of ground-breaking and more sustainable approaches to housing, working environments and infrastructure.

Sustainable building materials
The Holcim Foundation will support UIA in setting up a conference or workshop for a professional vocational training program specifically on the theme of building materials and sustainability.

UIA Working Program on sustainable architecture
The Holcim Foundation will cooperate with the UIA’s Working Program on sustainable architecture which aims to assist the architectural profession in making an effective contribution to the challenges of sustainability on the local and global scale. The program will make architectural expertise on sustainability available to the international community, and provide access to information and continuing education related to sustainable architecture.

Code of conduct for sustainable architecture
The Holcim Foundation strives to support UIA in setting up a “code of conduct” for architects which will be a voluntary commitment to sustainable development. The UIA also intends to develop a system of recognizing professionals who actively implement the criteria of sustainable development.

About the International Union of Architects (UIA)
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.

The UIA and its members play a major role in the development of the international building network. They are at the heart of the building industry evolution and contribute actively to its new challenges in terms of sustainable development, creating and renovating sustainable living and working environments while taking into consideration present and future needs.

www.uia-architectes.org

About the Holcim Foundation
The Holcim Foundation was created in 2003 by Holcim Ltd to raise international awareness of the important role that architecture, engineering, and construction have in helping to achieve a more sustainable future, as well as to prompt the radically different responses needed to make such a future achievable. With this in mind, the Holcim Foundation’s primary objective has been to select and support a range of initiatives that extend beyond technical solutions to creating sustainable construction outcomes which embrace architectural excellence and enhanced quality of life.

Swiss-based Holcim Ltd is one of the world’s leading suppliers of cement and aggregates. The Group also supplies ready-mix concrete and asphalt, and a range of other services. Holcim Ltd holds majority and minority interests in more than 70 countries and employs almost 90,000 people.

www.holcimfoundation.org