DHL champions better school buildings

DHL, the world’s leading express and logistics company, has demonstrated its support for sustainable programs during the “International Millennium School Design Competition” awards ceremony held at New world Renaissance Hotel in Makati City.

Organized by the My Shelter Foundation, the DHL-sponsored architectural design competition aims to elevate the condition of the country’s school infrastructures. Aside from regular wear and tear, the buildings have to withstand the Philippine’s typhoon-laden weather conditions. School buildings also have to be strong and flexible enough to double as temporary refugee centers during calamities and natural disasters.

Malaysian architect Eleena Jamil won First Place with her simple, easy to assemble and reusable design concept. Her plan utilized bamboo as the main material with concrete reinforcements. The roof was made of metal decking and rock wool insulation, plastered walls, treated bamboo screens, and an insulated metal clad ceiling. This innovative design ensures the school building was cool, comfortable and strong during both hot tropical days and typhoon-riddled monsoon months.

Filipino architects Bronne Dyloc and Nicolo del Castillo were awarded second and third place. John Patrick Anthony Buensalido from the Philippines, Fuyuki Makino from Japan, and Suzette Stoler and Joe Villanti from the USA won Honorable Mention. Entries from the Philippines, USA, Malaysia, Japan, Greece, Italy and Portugal were judged by a prominent group of international architects and engineers.

The International Millennium School Design Competition, a project spearheaded by 2007 DHL Young Entrepreneurs for Sustainability Awards (DHL YES Awards) Philippine winner Illac Diaz, solicited progressive “architecture-for-humanity” designs worldwide. Architects joined the collective effort to improve the quality of school buildings in developing countries.