Fifth International LafargeHolcim Forum

Words: Margaret FosterCreating awareness and promoting excellence in sustainable construction since 2003, the LafargeHolcim Foundation is proud to announce the start of its next round of activities.

Infrastructure Space is the topic of the 5th International LafargeHolcim Forum for Sustainable Construction. The academic symposium takes place in Detroit, USA in April 2016.

Following the merger of Lafarge and Holcim to form the world leader in the building materials industry, the 5th cycle of initiatives of the former Holcim Foundation will take place under the name of the LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction.

LafargeHolcim fully endorses the Foundation’s non-commercial focus on advancing sustainable responses to the technological, environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural issues affecting building and construction. The Group has a global presence in 90 countries, enabling the Foundation to promote the application of sustainable construction practices even more widely and to enhance the quality of life.

The 5th International LafargeHolcim Awards for projects and visions in sustainable construction will open for submissions in July 2016. The Awards entries are evaluated by independent juries in five regions of the world, and the competition offers USD 2 million for a total of 59 prizes on regional and global levels.

More information can be found at www.lafargeholcim-awards.org.

The 5th International LafargeHolcim Forum will take place in Detroit, USA in April 2016 and is dedicated to “Infrastructure Space”. The three-day academic event includes keynote speeches by renowned experts, and four concurrent workshops that encourage debates on topics such as absorbing contemporary technologies, toolsets for urban infrastructure, the politics of environmental ecologies, and exploring patterns of worldwide urbanization.

View LafargeHolcim Forum program and registration details at www.lafargeholcim-foundation.org.
Hot This Time of Year
July 2026

Yes, summer is hot; that is just how it is. Summer heat can have effects on many things, and as I get older, I realize there is usually something I can do to tolerate the hot days. We all know the obvious, and I am sure every one of us has that person who

The Walls We Build
July 2026

As masons, we spend our careers building walls. We build them with brick, block, stone, and mortar, and we take pride in making them straight, strong, and built to last. But over the years, I’ve learned there is another kind of wall we build—the walls we

Owen Heimbach
July 2026

This month, the MCAA had the pleasure of speaking with SkillsUSA First Place Winner Owen Heimbach, a young mason just starting out whose enthusiasm for bricklaying is truly contagious. His passion for the craft was evident throughout our interview.

Backfill Your Foundation
July 2026

I’ve been noticing an uptick in a very specific kind of application lately, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. The résumé usually reads like a family photo album. “Started helping my dad when I was 15.” “Worked summers, then full time.” “R