This bi-annual competition for architects requires that the submitted designs use VMZINC solutions in original projects. VMZINC is the international rolled zinc products brand manufactured and marketed by Umicore Building Products USA, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Winners included six projects in the categories “Private Housing,” “Commercial Buildings,” and “Public Buildings.

Four special honors were also named for “Sustainable Building,” “Daring,” Internet Users Choice” (in which the public cast votes), and “Jury’s Special Award.”

Representing 19 different countries, architects submitted 118 projects that were assessed by a jury comprised of 11 international professionals (architects, journalists and an engineer). Nicola Leonardi, editor-in-chief of The Plan magazine, chaired the jury.

The jury used three fundamental criteria to determine the winners:

1. Architectural quality -- the original expression of each project and the emotion generated

2. Integration into the site -- the suitability of the project in terms of environment, urban planning, topography and climate

3. Innovation -- highlighting zinc, its functionalities and performances.

“The diversity of countries, types of buildings, and architectural styles confirmed yet again the role of zinc in contemporary architecture,” said Daniel Nicely, managing director of Umicore Building Products USA. “This noble material is natural, recyclable, requires very little maintenance and provides a lasting environmental solution. It features excellent mechanical properties that make it suitable for almost all climatic conditions. VMZINC systems offer a broad diversity of applications, provide the perfect response to current architectural trends, and rise to the technical challenges of our time.”

The winners, representatives from the Umicore Group, and all members of the awards jury attended the presentation ceremony. Each winner received an Archizinc Trophy, an actual work of art in zinc.

The winning projects will be published next October in a special issue of FOCUS ON ZINC magazine. Approximately 65,000 copies of the magazine are distributed over 10 countries, offering winners the opportunity to have their work published worldwide.

For more information on the Archizinz Trophy, visit www.trophee-archizinc.com. For more information on Umicore Building Products and VMZINC, go to www.vmzinc-us.com.

About VMZINC / Umicore Building Products USA:

Umicore is a world-leading producer of VMZINC® architectural zinc. For over 160 years, Umicore has been providing innovative solutions for building owners, architects and contractors. Umicore has offices and representatives all over the world. In the United States, Umicore Building Products USA, Inc., is based in Raleigh, NC. For additional information, visit www.vmzinc-us.com and the Facebook pages “VMZINC,” “VMZINCresidential,” and “VMZINC for Architecture.”