AUC Architecture Team Wins Second Prize In Namaa Architecture Contest

Students from the Construction and Architectural Engineering Department at The American University in Cairo (AUC) were awarded second prize in the Namaa Architecture Contest held by Namaa Real Estate Investment Company, part of the Olympic Group. To compete, students were asked to create a plan of an ergonomic office building. The AUC team competed against other 11 groups representing the top universities in Egypt: Ain Shams University, Cairo University, Misr International University, and the British University in Egypt.  “Although AUC team members were younger in age by at least one year in comparison to other competing students, their project came in second by a very small margin to the first prize winner,” said Nashwa Sherif, professor of architecture in the department. “All jury members were very much impressed by their unique approach to design.”
The challenge required designing an efficient and functional office building that responds to the principles of ergonomics, which is the science of designing the job, equipment and workplace to fit the worker. “The department, faculty and staff, helped support students throughout the multiple rounds of the competition, giving them constant access to architecture studios and computer labs, even during holidays,” Sherif explained.
The AUC team included Amena Mashhour, Ann Sedky, Hind El Batouty, Mahy Sedky and Nourhan El Badry.  In addition, the entire construction and architectural engineering department, including student peers, pitched in to support AUC’s entry. “That's why we feel it’s the AUC architecture department’s winning project not only ours,” said Sedky, the team leader.
El Badry added, “This was an amazing experience that taught us a lot about real life. It would be wonderful to participate in future competitions representing our university.”
The American University in Cairo (AUC) was founded 90 years ago and is major contributor to the social, political and cultural life of the Arab Region.  It is a vital bridge between East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the world through scholarly research, partnerships with academic and research institutions, and study abroad programs. An independent, nonprofit, apolitical, non-sectarian and equal opportunity institution, AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States.