BlueScope Steel Architectural Awards 2024: Celebrating ‘Beautiful Strength’ through innovative steel applications, an accolade by NS BlueScope Malaysia

By Aisha Capulong

The inaugural BlueScope Steel Architectural Awards 2024, Malaysia (BSAA MY) is set to take the design scene by storm

NS BlueScope Malaysia Sdn Bhd, partnering with ACGMEDIA, debuts the very first installation of BSAA MY this 2024. The event aims to spotlight architectural brilliance across diverse applications of steel architecture. In the chosen projects, innovation, sustainability, and the endless potential of steel will be the main highlights.

With a theme of “Beautiful Strength”, the event celebrates the beauty and resilience that is embodied in steel architecture. The award will encompass builds within five cornerstone categories:

To expand on these categories, “Industrial” will explore factories, manufacturing plants and related facilities, while “Commercial” focuses on shopping malls, shop lots, auditoriums, hotels, and resorts. The “Residential” category pertains to houses, condominiums, and apartments, whereas the “Institutional and Others” division entertains builds like educational institutions, healthcare facilities, transportation hubs and airports. Last but not least, the “Lasting Beauty of COLORBOND® Steel” category looks to recognize historical buildings or heritage sites that serve as a glowing testament to the durability of COLORBOND® Steel.

“Our objective with this new awards program is to set the industry benchmark for excellence in architectural steel use… This way we can increase awareness of how innovative steel use can benefit architectural design while also giving a platform to the leading-edge projects Malaysia’s architectural sector is delivering,” said Mr Ken Wong, Vice President of Marketing, NS BlueScope Malaysia.

Mr Alvin Chang, CEO of ACGMEDIA, further comments, “This collaboration is a step-up in the design scene where we encourage architects and designers to increase their knowledge in steel architecture and to explore different solutions to complement modern design ideas.”

Road to the Finals

The segment dubbed as “Road to the Finals” prompts the very first phase of BSAA MY, in order to identify the top three winners in each category within Malaysia. Gold, Silver, and Bronze placements will be awarded in every category, but only the Gold winners from each Malaysian category will advance to the subsequent round — the BlueScope Steel Architectural Awards 2024, ASEAN level. These Malaysian Gold winners will converge with fellow Gold awardees from Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, contending for the coveted Ultimate Platinum distinction on the ASEAN stage. This spirited competition promotes a deeper comprehension of steel’s boundless adaptability while also fostering stronger bonds across neighboring nations.

BSAA MY boasts an esteemed jury panel, with Ar. Dr. Tan Loke Mun (Director of Archicentre Sdn Bhd), Ar. Dr. Serina Hijjas (Director of Hijjas Kasturi Associates), alongside Adjunct Professor Ar. Adrianta bin Aziz (Director of AR RAD Architects Plt), Mr Robert Nation Am Lrraia (Director of National Architects and Australia International Chapter Council) and Mr. Alan Koh (Director of Star Hospitality Luxe Sdn Bhd) sitting at the board. These distinguished judges will evaluate projects according to four key criteria: design excellence, community and humanity, innovation, and sustainability.