Group advances architectural academic excellence

By Alexander Villafania INQUIRER.NET MANILA, Philippines -- In an effort to promote excellence among the country's budding architects and design engineers, Environments Global Foundation (EGF) launched two programs aimed at the country's architecture and engineering educational institutions. EGF is a corporate social responsibility group of the architectural and construction group Environments Global. The two programs are the Lines to Lives Academic Excellence Award in Architecture and the Red Point Award. The Lines to Lives is a planned annual search for the most outstanding student of architecture. Participating students must have a grade point average of 1.25, with no failure or incomplete grades. EGF has partnered with the University of the Philippines, University of Sto. Tomas, and the Mapua Institute of Technology as part of the pilot program of the Lines to Lives, which would run from 2008 to 2009. There would be three final winners for Lines to Lives and each will receive P150,000. Meanwhile, the Red Point Award is an undertaking between AGF and the Council of Deans and Heads of Architecture Schools in the Philippines. Its purpose is to find the best thesis from architecture students in the country. Similar to Lines for Lives, there will also be three final winners for Red Point Award and each will win P100,000 each. Winners will be announced and awarded in June 2009. In an interview, EGF President Antony Zubiri said the two programs aim to encourage budding architecture students to excel in their chosen course. He said the Philippines' architectural schools produce among the best architects who work in major design companies abroad. "By providing students with a venue to develop their skills, we will create an environment for excellence among future Filipino architects," Zubiri said.