The show must go on! That/s exactly what happened. The virtual Architect & Builder Awards brought together India/s galaxy of architects and builders and gave recognition to those who have been driving the infrastructure bogie through thick and thin over the past 15 years.
Neither the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic nor the crippling lockdown came in the way of bringing the architects and builders fraternity together at the 15th CONSTRUCTION WORLD Architect & Builder Awards (CWAB) -ONLINE Awards. Held on August 28, the awards recognised and honoured over 40 leading architects and builders from all over the country.
In the words of renowned architect and Padma Bhushan awardee Hafeez Contractor, "The whole world has virtually stopped, but FIRST Construction Council's CWAB awards and functions are still going on. I really congratulate you and thank you for the positive work you are doing for our building industry."
The CWAB Awards were initiated 15 years ago to recognise and award excellence in process and execution. And ever since, they have come to be known as "the Oscars of the design and building industry". Year after year, the CWAB Awards have followed a painstaking process of recognising excellence. And this year once again celebrated design excellence with the unique theme of FuSion or Futuristic Vision to plan, design and build structures that are "future-ready".
The CWAB Awards2020 event was graced by Chief Guest Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Governor of Maharashtra & Goa, and Guest of Honour Ved Parkash Dudeja, Vice Chairman, Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA). The event was powered by Balkrishna Industries Ltd (BKT), with KONE Elevator India Pvt. Ltd as theGold Partner, Katerra as Silver Partner and Orientbell Tiles as the Design Dialogue Partner.
Pratap Padode, Founder & President of the FIRST Construction Council - an infrastructure think-tank established 17 years ago - gave the perfect start to the event. Speaking about the distinguishing feature of the winners in his welcome address, he said, "A brand which commands trust, quality, design, and value is the brand to aspire to be."
On the need for digital technologies in buildings, he stressed,"Indian private companies are spearheading the building information modelling (BIM) adoption revolution, but it is mostly being used for overseas clients. BIM technology's recent examples include Bengaluru Airport and the Delhi Metro Rail but the industry as a whole is lagging in this regard. A mandatory usage of BIM technology for large projects maybe the way forward since only over half of India's construction companies including those involved in rail, road and housing projects currently only spend 1-3 per cent of their annual turnover on technologies."
The virtual event also witnessed the unveiling of CONSTRUCTION WORLD magazine's 15th CWAB SPECIAL ISSUE that features all the winners, jury, noteworthy projects, and images for the past 15 years. The special edition has details of over 50 winners across all categories, over 100 jury members, over 36 noteworthy projects and over 28 regional award winners for the past 15 years.
In his keynote address, Chief Guest Koshyari observed, "During these times of COVID-19, I congratulate CONSTRUCTION WORLD for conducting this virtual event. CONSTRUCTION WORLD, under the leadership of Mr. Pratap Padode, among all others, is important in the construction group. This event is quite useful, and I hope that post this event, the construction group, all architects and those concerned will hopefully give a new initiative to the Indian construction industry."
"I am also happy that CONSTRUCTION WORLD awards firms and projects in each region of India.Today, construction and all other such activities have become very important and I hope that under the leadership of Mr. Padode, people involved in construction and other such related activities will be encouraged and get new inspiration from such events. I wish you success in your magazines as well," he added.
"I am delighted to be the guest of honour at the 15th edition of the Construction World Architect and Builder Awards and would like to thank ASAPP Info Global Group for giving me an opportunity to interact with some of the brightest minds in India,"remarked RLDA's Dudeja.
Further elaborating on the event's importance, he said, "For over 20 years, ASAPP Info Global Group, with Mr. Pratap Padode at the helm, has drastically transformed the B2B media with its dynamic offerings in print, web and the events space. The holistic information experience provided by the group through its bouquet of awards such as the CONSTRUCTION WORLD ANNUAL AWARDS for construction equipment and building material companies, the CONSTRUCTION WORLD ARCHITECT & BUILDER AWARDS for top architects and builders and several others like EQUIPMENT INDIA AWARDS and SMART PROJECT AWARDS have set a benchmark for the industry. The CONSTRUCTION WORLD ARCHITECT & BUILDER Awards have emerged as a flagship event and a one-stop platform for the construction and architecture industry for the past 14 years. This event is an opportunity for developers, investors, consumers and the real estate eco-system. It provides greater prospect for them to converge on a common platform and it recognises their exemplary contribution in building a futuristic India."
Dudeja further added that the real estate players and leading architects had a great responsibility in shaping India's development story.
"They have done commendable work in this direction and their efforts must be recognised and valued. Events such as the CONSTRUCTION WORLD ARCHITECT & BUILDER AWARDS play a pivotal role in sensitising the stakeholders on the role of real estate players and leading architects in modern India and augmenting the government efforts in this direction," he pointed out.
On his part, Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, Founder & Managing Director, Hiranandani Group, thanked CONSTRUCTION WORLD for once again recognising his firm as among India's Top Builders 2020. "Even in these COVID times, it is wonderful to know that CONSTRUCTION WORLD continues to hold award ceremonies. The COVID situation is difficult and yet many of us can continue with construction activities even in this difficult time. Thank you, CONSTRUCTION WORLD, for recognising this activity of the construction industry, the developers, and the building industry."