Partner Universities

The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) was established in 1853, and became a national school in 1969. There are over 9,000 students from more than 125 countries, in addition to more than 5,000 researchers and academics on campus.

EPFL hosted the Holcim Awards juries for Europe in 2017 and 2020, and a Next Generation Lab in 2022.

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich – ETH Zurich) was established in 1855 and is now home to over 18,000 students, researchers and academics.

ETH Zurich hosted the inaugural Holcim Forum on “Basic Needs” in 2004 and the Holcim Awards juries for Europe in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014.

The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT Chicago), also known as Illinois Tech, is a private, technology-focused, research university in Chicago, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, architecture, business, design, human sciences, applied technology, and law.

IIT Chicago hosted the Holcim Awards jury meeting for North America in 2020.

Although the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has only 10,000 students, it ranks among the most important universities worldwide. With 57 Nobel Prize winners from its alumni, faculty, researchers and staff, MIT is a significant center of education and research.

MIT hosted the Holcim Awards jury meeting 2005, 2008, 2011, and 2014, as well as hosting the 1st Holcim Roundtable on “Re-materializing Construction” in 2014.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranks among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. Its entrepreneurial perspective encourages students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning.

UBC hosted the Holcim Awards jury meeting for North America in 2017.

For over 70 years the Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México (IBERO) has participated actively in the social development of Mexico. Founded by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1943 as the Centro Cultural Universitario, the project quickly grew and became the Universidad Iberoamericana ten years later and offered courses in philosophy, chemistry, literature and psychology.

IBERO hosted the Holcim Awards juries for Latin America in 2008, 2011 and 2020, the Holcim Forum 2010 on “Re-inventing Construction” and the Next Generation Awards Lab 2018.

The Universidade de São Paulo (USP) in Brazil, is the third largest university in Latin America, with over 600 courses on offer to 40,000 students.

USP hosted the Holcim Awards jury meeting for Latin America in 2005 and 2017.

Founded in 1613, the university is the oldest in Argentina and the third oldest university of the Americas. It has a population of over 130,000 students with 13 faculties offering nearly 300 undergraduate and graduate degrees. There are also 100 academic research centres and services, 25 libraries and 16 museums.

UNC hosted the Next Generation Awards Lab in 2022.

Founded in 1919, The American University of Cairo (AUC) is one of the region’s leading English-language universities and a center of the intellectual, social and cultural life of the Arab world. With a community of students and faculty members representing over 60 countries, AUC is a crossroads for the world’s cultures and a vibrant forum for reasoned argument, spirited debate, and understanding across cultures.

AUC hosted the Holcim Forum on the theme of “Re-materializing Construction” in 2019 and the Holcim Awards jury for Middle East Africa in 2017.

The American University of Beirut (AUB) (الجامعة الأميركية في بيروت)‎ is a private, secular, and independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. The university is the top-ranked university in Lebanon and among the top 250 universities worldwide by QS World University Rankings.

AUB hosted the Holcim Awards jury meeting for Middle East Africa in 2014.

The École Supérieure d'Architecture et de Paysage in Casablanca (EAC) is part of the Honoris United Universities network. Its mission is the training, research, and dissemination of architectural culture. While adhering to international education standards, the EAC bases its teaching on the territory and issues related to the metropolis. Research at the school has a particular interest in the architectural heritage of Art Deco and Modern Casablanca.

EAC hosted the Holcim Awards jury meeting for Middle East Africa in 2011.

Founded in 1922, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg has built a reputation for itself as a center for education and research of the highest quality in South Africa. The university has over 25,000 students and a reputation for sustaining globally competitive standards of excellence in learning, teaching and research.

Wits hosted the Holcim Awards jury for Middle East Africa in 2005 and 2008.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is an autonomous research university in Singapore. As Singapore’s foremost and most prestigious institution of higher learning, NUS aims to advance knowledge and educate students, foster innovation and nurture talent, all in the service of the country and society.

NUS hosted the Holcim Awards jury meeting in 2020.

Tongji University (TJU) was founded in 1907 by a German physician and is among the oldest and most prestigious universities in China. It is now a comprehensive university with more than 40,000 students and degree programs in engineering, science, medicine, management, arts, law, and economics, with strength in architecture, civil engineering and oceanography.

Tongji University hosted the Holcim Awards jury for Asia Pacific in 2005 and 2008.

Tsinghua University (清华大学) describes itself as being dedicated to academic excellence, the well-being of Chinese society and to global development. Tsinghua University has 12 colleges and 48 departments, 41 research institutes, 35 research centers, and 167 laboratories, including 15 national key laboratories.

Tsinghua University was the host of the Holcim Awards jury meeting for Asia Pacific in 2014.

Established in 1853, the University of Melbourne is a public-spirited institution that makes distinctive contributions to society in research, learning and teaching and engagement. It is consistently ranked among the leading universities in the world, with international rankings of world universities placing it as number one in Australia.

The University of Melbourne hosted the Holcim Awards jury for Asia Pacific in 2017.