Tuesday, September 25, 2012


Architecture students to showcase their
design skills in national competition

THE COMPETITION SEEKS TO IGNITE INTEREST AMONG THE ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS TO USE STEEL AS A MEDIUM OF EXPRESSION AND CONSTRUCTION



Kolkata, September 25th 2012: Institute for Steel Design &Growth (INSDAG), a non-profit making, member based organization established at Kolkata by the Ministry of Steel, Govt. of India and the major steel producers in the country, today flagged off the 13th National Award Competition for Students for Best Innovative Use of Steel in Architecture (2011-12), at a gala function in Kolkata. The function was inaugurated by Mr. Bimlendra Jha, Vice President, Long Products, Tata Steel Limited. The theme for this year is “Steel Intensive (B+G+4) Storeyed Office Building.”


Rapid technological advancements, space constraints and need for multiple functionality have made the designing of steel-based structures like bridges, buildings,industrial structures, housing complex etc., a challenging task. Engineers and designers have to design the best structures by combining technology, quality, aesthetics, functionality, ergonomics and ecology.

The Competition is open to all the first year to final year under graduate and post graduate students of architecture in India.


Not only there is a growing need for trained young engineers and designers but also to identify the best talents in the field and reward them. Fulfilling this need, at least partially, is the annual national-level competition on “Steel Intensive (B+G+4) Storeyed Office Building” organized by INSDAG

Explaining the rationale of the competition, Mr Sushim Banerjee, Director General, INSDAG said, “This competition provides a platform for young students to demonstrate their talents and designing skills and also an opportunity to interact with industry experts and gain insights into the latest advancements and the required skill sets and stay abreast of the global technological advancements in civil engineering.”


The competition challenges students, working individually or in teams, to explore a variety of design issues related to the use of steel in design and construction. “The objective is to create awareness among the students on high potential of structural steel (as a material of construction), to expose them to the world of steel in depth and also to stretch their imaginations to make use of the unique properties of steel as a building material,” Mr Banerjee said.


The competition, now into its 13th Year, seeks to recognize and reward talented students of architecture engineering in India for excellence and innovation in structural steel design. This year’s theme – “Steel Intensive (B+G+4) Storeyed Office Building” - is very relevant and inspired by projects that are currently in great demand in the country. A total of 27 Groups consisting of 80 students participated all over India out of which 14 Groups (3 each from East, West, South and 4 from North zones) comprising of 42 students from different engineering colleges have been shortlisted for the final round. The presentations to be made in the final round will be judged by the central selection committee comprising of four zonal jury members and two central jury members who are all eminent professors/structural engineers from renowned engineering colleges of the country.

The top five entries will receive cash prize along with Medals and Certificates from INSDAG.

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