BETA HOLDINGS hosted the second edition of the Beta Architectural Students Competition, which culminated with an awards ceremony held at the Venue in Harare on Saturday the 7tH of October 2017. The competition brief required students to design a commercial building for the Institute of Built Environment on a piece of land situate in Borrowdale, Harare. Competition entrants were required to incorporate clay bricks and concrete roof tiles in their designs as economic and aesthetically pleasing building materials, whilst also focusing on environmental sustainability and green building technology.
The Guest of Honour at the event, Musa Shangase, President of the Clay Brick Association of Southern Africa, commended Beta Holdings, National University of Science and Technology and the Zimbabwe Institute of Architects for their partnership in administering the competition, which sets out to inspire and excite young minds in the architectural field, noting that this sets the tone for future nation building. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Francis Gudyanga said that the competition was an important expression of private sector efforts to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Technology (STEM) careers, in line with the Ministry’s STEM policy introduced at the start of 2016.
The winner, of the Prestigious Vernon Mwamuka Floating trophy, Tichaona Gondo walked away with $3000 in cash whilst first runner up, Tatenda Jambaya received $2000, and second runner up, Yamurai Chibayanzara walked away with $1000. The adjudication team also gave a special commendation to Takudzwa Musonza for his excellent execution of the brief.
For further information see http://www.beta.co.zw/competition/#awards