Two of the graduates from Architecture Department of American International University Bangladesh (AIUB) have been awarded with two prizes in the prestigious Kabir Steel Re-Rolling Mills (KSRM) Awards for Future Architects 2019 for Best Architecture Thesis on Wednesday at Hotel Inter Continental in the capital.
SM Rezaul Karim, Minister, Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education; Shahriar Jahan, DMD, KSRM Steel Plant Ltd, Architect Jalal Ahmed, President, Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) were present on the occasion and awarded the crest , certificate and cheques to the winners.
Golam Mahmudur Rahman has received Third Prize for his project titled "Congruity of a Commercial Urban Block- Elephant Road Shoe Market, Dhaka” and Fahim Hasan Rezve has received a Commendation award for his project titled "Revitalizing Jute Culture: A Museum for Golden Fiber, Adamjee”.
Along with the students, their studio teachers Sharmina Haque and Dr ATM Shahjahan and the department too have been acknowledged with recognition for their excellent effort in this award programme.
A total of 28 projects from 10 IAB accredited architecture schools of the country were submitted. These projects had already gone through an internal screening at their respective schools and then only found their way to IAB to be included in the national level of evaluation.
A panel of eminent jurors including Vice Chancellor Architect Mohammad Ali Naqi, Stamford University Bangladesh; Professor and Dean Dr Fuad H Mallick, School of Design, BRAC University; Professor Dr Farida Nilufar, Architecture department, BUET; Architect Saif Ul Haque, Aga Khan award 2019 winner and Director Research and Design programme, Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscape and Settlement and Architect Mustafa Ameen, Principle and Proprietor of Domus Architects evaluated these projects.
All the entries were then publicly displayed in a three-day long Exhibition from December 25 to December 27, 2019 at IAB Center which was open for all. The exhibition was widely visited by students, architects and people from different walks of life.
The concept was initiated by Architect M Arefeen Ibrahim, Secretary Education, IAB and Head, Department of Architecture, AIUB, then developed and implemented by Students and Teachers Affairs Committee [STAC]- a subcommittee under education portfolio of IAB with sincere assistance from KSRM team. This will be an annual award programme for graduating Architecture students henceforth and play a vital role hopefully in bridging the existing gap between academia, industry and profession gradually.
