Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction

The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction is a Switzerland-based nonprofit organization focused on advancing more sustainable approaches to architecture, engineering, urban planning, and construction. It was established in Zurich in 2003 by Holcim Ltd, which served as its sole sponsor. Rather than operating as a conventional commercial product brand, the foundation functions as a platform for identifying, recognizing, documenting, and discussing projects and ideas that seek to improve the environmental, social, and economic performance of the built environment. The foundation's best-known initiative is its international awards program for sustainable construction. The competition recognizes completed or proposed projects that combine architectural quality with sustainability principles and practical construction innovation. Awards have included Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Acknowledgement distinctions. A separate Next Generation category was designed for students and young professionals aged 30 or below, giving emerging practitioners a route into the foundation's international network and public program. Across its competition history, the awards have presented projects from a wide range of geographical and disciplinary contexts, including buildings, infrastructure, urban interventions, and community-oriented developments. A second central activity is the Holcim Forum, a series of international symposia intended to bring architects, engineers, planners, academics, policymakers, and other construction-sector participants into the same conversation. The forums examine the future of the built environment, encourage exchange across professional boundaries, and explore responses to issues such as resource use, urbanization, social inclusion, climate pressures, and construction methods. The foundation has also supported publications that explain award-winning projects and record the ideas developed through its events. The organization underwent a branding change after Holcim Ltd and Lafarge S.A. completed their merger in 2015. During the LafargeHolcim period, the foundation was known as the LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction, while its principal programs were renamed the LafargeHolcim Awards and LafargeHolcim Forum. Following LafargeHolcim's rebranding as Holcim in 2021, the foundation returned to its original name and refreshed its visual identity. Publicly described activity includes six international award cycles, more than 100 events, and approximately 50 publications. Its role is primarily convening and agenda-setting: it promotes examples of sustainable construction, creates recognition for practitioners and younger professionals, and provides a forum for debate rather than selling building materials or construction services. The foundation remains associated with Holcim, but available reference material does not establish a separate commercial ownership structure, stock listing, or independent operating-market footprint beyond its international activities.

The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction was created in Zurich in 2003 by Holcim Ltd. Its formation reflected an effort to create a dedicated platform for sustainability within the broad construction and building-materials ecosystem. The foundation was organized as a nonprofit rather than as a commercial operating company, and its work centered on architecture, engineering, urban planning, and construction. From its early years, the foundation developed two complementary strands of activity. The first was an international competition recognizing projects that addressed sustainability while maintaining architectural and construction quality. The awards were organized in three-year cycles and included principal Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Acknowledgement distinctions. The program also created a Next Generation category for students and young professionals aged 30 or younger, extending the foundation's remit beyond established practices and firms. The second strand was the Holcim Forum, a symposium series that brought together participants from different parts of the built-environment sector to discuss emerging challenges and possible solutions. The foundation's output expanded beyond events and prizes. It documented selected projects and forum discussions in books and other publications, creating a record of approaches to community facilities, workplaces, research buildings, educational buildings, conservation-related facilities, and urban transformation. According to the reference description of its activities, the organization completed six international award cycles, held more than 100 events, and produced 50 publications. A major institutional change occurred in 2015, when Holcim Ltd and Lafarge S.A. completed their global merger. The resulting company was initially named LafargeHolcim, and the foundation was correspondingly renamed the LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. Its awards became the LafargeHolcim Awards and its symposium program became the LafargeHolcim Forum. The renaming represented an adjustment to the sponsor's corporate identity rather than a change in the foundation's core mission. In July 2021, LafargeHolcim adopted the Holcim name. The foundation consequently reverted to Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction and updated its branding and identity. Its continuing purpose is to encourage better environmental and social performance in the built environment by highlighting practical examples, supporting professional and academic exchange, and making sustainability-related construction knowledge more visible. Available reference material does not provide a current executive roster, a separately reported budget, or evidence that the foundation operates as a listed commercial entity.

1. 2021Holcim name restored

   The organization returned to the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction name after LafargeHolcim rebranded as Holcim.

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2. 2015Renamed LafargeHolcim Foundation

   Following the Holcim–Lafarge merger, the foundation and its principal programs adopted LafargeHolcim branding.

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3. 2005Awards program documentation begins

   Publications documented the early Holcim Awards cycle and projects recognized for sustainable construction approaches.

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4. 2004First documented Holcim Forum

   The foundation's forum program was documented through a publication on the 2004 Holcim Forum for Sustainable Construction.

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5. 2003Foundation established

   Holcim Ltd established the foundation in Zurich as a nonprofit organization promoting sustainable construction and related built-environment practices.

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An international nonprofit platform for advancing sustainable construction through recognition, knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary dialogue, and documentation of exemplary projects.

• Holcim Foundation Awards for Sustainable ConstructionAwards program

  An international competition recognizing projects that integrate sustainable design and construction with architectural excellence. The program has used Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Acknowledgement distinctions, alongside a Next Generation category for students and young professionals aged 30 or below. It is a recognition and knowledge-sharing program rather than a physical product line.

• Holcim ForumSymposium and knowledge-exchange program2004

  A series of interdisciplinary symposia focused on sustainable construction and the future of the built environment. The forum connects practitioners, researchers, and other stakeholders to examine new ideas and potential responses to environmental, social, and urban-development challenges.

• Foundation publicationsResearch and project documentation

  Books and other publications documenting award-winning projects, forum discussions, and themes in sustainable construction. Referenced subjects include community facilities, office buildings, research centers, urban transformation, educational buildings, manufacturing facilities, and conservation-related architecture.

• 2021Reversion to Holcim identityStrategy

  LafargeHolcim rebranded itself as Holcim.

  What changed. The foundation restored the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction name and updated its branding and identity.

  Aftermath. The organization continued operating under the Holcim Foundation name.

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• 2015Adoption of LafargeHolcim brandingM&A

  Holcim Ltd and Lafarge S.A. completed their global merger and launched LafargeHolcim.

  What changed. The foundation changed its name to the LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction, and its awards and forum adopted corresponding LafargeHolcim names.

  Aftermath. The foundation continued its sustainable-construction mission under the merged company's identity until the return to Holcim branding in 2021.

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• 2021Return to Holcim Foundation identity

  The foundation restored its original Holcim name after LafargeHolcim rebranded as Holcim, along with an updated visual identity.

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• 2015Foundation and programs adopt LafargeHolcim branding

  After Holcim and Lafarge completed their merger, the foundation changed its name to the LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction and renamed its major initiatives.

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• 2003Foundation established in Zurich

  Holcim Ltd established the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction as a nonprofit platform promoting sustainable practices in the built environment.

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1. Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction
2. Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction official website