Presentation of the Global Silver Award 2015 (l-r): Ian Thackwray, LafargeHolcim Executive Committee member responsible for Asia Pacific; Philippe Richart, CEO Holcim Lanka; prize winners Ganga Ratnayake and Milinda Pathiraja of Robust Architecture Workshop, Colombo; and Maria Atkinson, Member of the Global jury and the Board of the LafargeHolcim Foundation.

Presentation of the Global Silver Award 2015 including prize winners Ganga Ratnayake (holding trophy) and Milinda Pathiraja (holding certificate) of Robust Architecture Workshop, Colombo and team members, representatives of the Sri Lankan Army, LafargeHolcim, and the Global Awards jury.

“Architects have a responsibility not only for the profession and the client, but also to society – it’s our goal to bring these dimensions together in our work.” – Milinda Pathiraja of Robust Architecture Workshop, Colombo.

Maria Atkinson, Member of the Global jury and the Board of the LafargeHolcim Foundation commended the project for creating a skilled and motivated workforce through an educational program and the thoughtful deployment of specific construction techniques.

Representative of the Global Holcim Awards jury, Meisa Batayneh Maani is Founder and Principal Architect at Maisam Architects & Engineers, based in Amman, Jordan.

“We want to use our position as the world leader in the building materials industry to support sustainable construction, build awareness, and to advocate solutions that incorporate architectural excellence and enhanced quality of life.” – Ian Thackwray, Member of the Executive Committee of LafargeHolcim responsible for Asia Pacific.

“This truly exemplary project was selected out of more than 6000 submissions from all continents, and we are proud that Sri Lanka is recipient of one of the top three global prizes” Philippe Richart, CEO of Holcim Lanka.

Presentation of the Global Silver Award 2015: celebration of prize winners Ganga Ratnayake and Milinda Pathiraja (center) of Robust Architecture Workshop, Colombo and team members.

“The project brings skill development for soldiers so they have socio-economic expertise after they leave the army” – Major General Boniface Perera, Colonel of the Sinha Regiment.

Global Silver Awards 2015 prize ceremony – Post-War Collective: Community library and social recuperation, Ambepussa, Sri Lanka

Certificates of accomplishment were presented to the workforce engaged in building the library complex. Major Iresh Mahendra (left) and Staff Sergeant Ranjith Prematilake received certificates on behalf of the entire workforce.

More than 200 guests from 16 countries attended the Global Silver Awards prize ceremony, which was held in the building that had won the prize.

“This is the first time we have the honor of presenting an Awards trophy within the building that is to receive the prize.” – Edward Schwarz, General Manager of the LafargeHolcim Foundation.

More than 200 guests from 16 countries attended the Global Silver Awards prize ceremony, which was held in the building that had won the prize. The Awards ceremony was the first in the twelve-year history of the competition to be held on the site of the winning project and took place in the main reading hall of the library.

Members of the workforce engaged in building the library complex attended the prize handover event. The soldiers were coached in building techniques using rammed-earth walls and recycled materials that harnessed their expertise in logistics and modular construction.

Traditional drummers welcomed guests to the Global Awards Silver ceremony.

A reception dinner was held following the ceremony adjacent to the Officers’ mess.

Guests travelled the sixty-kilometer journey from Colombo to Ambepussa on the Viceroy, which first operated on the route in 1864.

When completed, the Lotus Tower will be the tallest building in South Asia with a height of 350 metres.

The lotus-shaped tower will be used for communication, observation and include additional leisure facilities.

The tower will be 350 m tall and will be spread over 30,600 square meters of floor area.

View from the top of the Lotus Tower over central Colombo.

The tower will be 350 m tall and will be spread over 30,600 square meters of floor area.

Global Silver Awards 2015 prize event – Site visits: MAS Intimates Thurulie

Energy consumption at MAS Intimates Thurulie is 25% lower than comparable factories, and consumption of potable water about half the norm. The visit included an inspection of the green roof that covers 1,757 square meters of the building. They are installed on concrete decks over short-span spaces in the administrative wing. Covered with turf and plants, the high thermal mass of this roof absorbs heat without transmitting it into the building.

With a worker-centered design, industrial processes follow the high-productivity MAS lean-manufacturing standard. The production floor is separated into five halls on two floors. This makes climate control more efficient and it allows housing complete value chains within each hall.

In the interest of worker well-being, the design team paid special attention to the work areas, particularly regarding an attractive environment, pleas- ant outdoor views, thermal comfort, fresh air, and illumination, including natural lighting and task lighting. Large windows are a key part of the design, bringing the green outdoors into all working spaces.

With a worker-centered design, industrial processes follow the high-productivity MAS lean-manufacturing standard. The production floor is separated into five halls on two floors. This makes climate control more efficient and it allows housing complete value chains within each hall.

The architectural design responds to the tropical climate with a full array of passive cooling measures and a clever cooling system to economically achieve a comfortable indoor environment.

To reduce embodied energy in the building, the main exterior walls are made of compressed stabilized earth blocks manufactured close to the building site.