A two-week intensive in-person course in New York City that empowers students to bridge education and the practice of sustainable construction.

Open to final year masters students and recent graduates of universities in the United States and Canada, the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction will conduct its first Holcim Foundation Fellowship in August 2024 in New York City.

Masters students and practices will learn together from recently built projects and to challenge existing modes of practice. This in-person intensive two-week course seeks to foster a curiosity and solutions-driven mindset through a series of actions - open dialogue, consultation, exploration, and reflection - and to create a dynamic feedback loop that leads to transferable and scalable outcomes.

Upon completion of the program, selected Fellows will be chosen to take part in the next step of the journey - the Holcim Foundation Emerging ChangeMakers.

Applications are open to current Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Urban Planning, Historic Preservation, Structural / Civil / Construction Engineering and Real Estate Development students about to undertake their final year of masters level studies and those that completed their masters degrees in 2023 or later at any university in the United States and Canada.

• Boost your career by being one of 15 students taking part in this unique program with some of New York City’s leading design firms.
• Be part of a global network of Holcim Foundation Fellows selected for their commitment to shaping the future of sustainable construction.
• Participants selected for the Fellowship will be provided with housing and travel assistance for the duration of the program and receive full tuition for the course.
• Take part in site visits and discussions of real projects with collaborating firms, and engage in focused lectures and talks on relevant themes.
• Present your findings to a group of industry experts and to your peers at the concluding panel event.
• Have the opportunity to be selected as a Holcim Foundation Emerging ChangeMaker at the conclusion of the Fellowship and continue on your journey at the 2025 Emerging ChangeMakers Retreat.
• Have continued opportunities to grow in your career and expand your network by access to the Holcim Foundation’s international array of professionals and academic institutions.

Partnering Firms

Fellows will visit case study projects in New York City to meet practising professionals and hear presentations to learn about the innovative leadership work of their firms.

Students are selected using the following academic/merit and interpersonal criteria:

Video introduction

Compose a 2-minute video introducing yourself, your motivations and why you would like to take part in the Holcim Foundation Fellowship. Be as creative, artistic, serious or oratorical as you wish - but make sure you are visible and speaking for at least half of the video. Note the video size limit of 100 MB.

Reflection paper

A 800-word reflection paper covering the following i) the rationale behind embracing self-leadership and collaboration in prospective careers, and ii) the significance of contextual learning in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and propelling advancements in the construction industry.

Resume

A resume (PDF), maximum 2 pages.

Portfolio

Student portfolio - no longer than 4 slides/pages (PDF). The applicant’s academic program relevance will be taken into consideration.

Letters of recommendation

Two letters of recommendation are requested for this application: one academic reference and one reference from either an academic or professional source. Both letters must be submitted directly by the respective referees to education@holcimfoundation.org.

Please ask your referees to describe you along these points: i) Intellectual and critical thinking skills; ii) Design skills related to applicant's discipline; iii) Collaborative spirit and sense of empathy; and iv) Curiosity and humble posture of learning. Please ask your referees to include your last name followed by first name in the email subject. Letters of recommendation could arrive after the submission deadline

We suggest submitting your application even before obtaining letters of recommendation.

If you’re not yet ready to start the application process, complete the form below to receive updates on the Fellowship and a reminder of the application closing date from the Holcim Foundation.