• 3 successful projects of the region were awarded in the Residential, Intitutional and Commercial categories.

• Jury: Jennifer Tanner Ph.D. from the Wyoming University, Richard Klingner Ph.D. and Texas University professor, and Timoteo Gordillo from the Argentinean Concrete Blocks Association.

With the sponsorship from Euclid Chemical and Columbia Machine and the support from the Costa Rican Cement and Concrete Institute – ICCYC, the winning projects received the FICEM-APCAC statues and a total of US$4.500 dollars in recognition to their contribution to the concrete masonry construction development in the region.

Guillermo Ulate, President of the Costa Rican Cement and Concrete Institute, Enio Rodríguez, General Manager of the Housing Mortgage Bank of Costa Rica, and Amalia Rozo, Manager of the Federación Interamericana del Cemento FICEM-APCAC, awarded the projects in Residential, Commercial, and Institutional categories.

In the Residential category, it was awarded the Costa Rican architect Rudy Piedra Mena for the ‘Casa PM' project. In this work, the masonry as expressive, formal, and technical-constructive axis of the residence, allowed the project to outstand among the finalists as an impeccable architectonic product resulting from the combination of waved block with concrete cobbles. The project was proposed by the Costa Rican Cement and Concrete Institute - ICCYC.

Proposed by the ICCYC too, in the Institutional category, the winning project was the Blue Valley Costa Rican School from the architect Ana Urbina and the engineer Juan Francisco Montealegre. The quality of the work was heightened by the use of materials with great resistance against the environment and actions proper of the studying environment. Additionally, the structure was characterized by its flexibility, which is determinant for absorbing the seismic energy and that makes it safe and comfortable for its inhabitants.

And finally, in the Commercial category, the ‘Nueve C Sur Proyecto de Empresarial' construction, proposed by the engineer Guillermo Bernal, excelled by it special architectonical design, mix of salmon and grey combined concrete blocks and other materials as glass, metal, porcelain, and cristanac. With this the project an innovative contribution to the industrial sector, breaking concepts and paradigms regarding the materials used so far in structures of industrial use.

In this manner, with the 1st FICEM-APCAC Concrete Masonry Inter-American Award, the Federation recognized the capacity, technical and creative efforts of the professionals who by their quality, performance, and versatility work jointly with the sustainable development of the cement industry in the region.

FICEM-APCAC is thankful with the contestants and invites its audiences and associates to participate in the next version of the Concrete Masonry Award to be held in 2010.