The Hindu Business Line : Steel sector bid to woo budding architects

The student team of Chennai's MEASI College of Architecture working on the real-life theme project of a cricket stadium at the National Students Award Competition 2003-04 for the best innovative use of steel in architecture in Kolkata on Wednesday. — Parth Sanyal

Kolkata , Aug 4

THE steel industry may be enjoying a bullish phase but efforts are still on to promote steel usage in the construction sector. One such attempt involves targeting young architects.

As a part of the National Student Award Competition organised by the Institute for Steel Development and Growth (INSDAG), third and fourth years students of architecture from all over India have gathered in the city to present their models for an international cricket stadium.

INSDAG, a body under the Union Steel Ministry, is actively involved in promoting steel usage.

According to an INSDAG official, there is a need to raise awareness among architects about the uses of steel in construction as this area is not given adequate attention in colleges.

"At INSDAG, we have found that students are mostly taught about cement as a construction medium. The use of steel as a construction material is hardly taught," the official said.

The institute felt that instead of promoting steel usage among established architects, it would be more productive if the idea was sold to young minds. The National Student Award was constituted with this in mind. The award has entered its fifth year.

After four years of dabbling in theoretical themes, INSDAG this year offered a real-life project - an international cricket stadium - which is being built by the Chhattisgarh Government at Raipur.

"The project was originally conceived in the reinforced cement concrete form but we advised the State Government and showed them how they would save on cost if the construction focuses on steel," the official said.

However, although the students have prepared several models of the stadium, none of them will be implemented because the Chhattisgarh Government has engaged its own consultant and contractor.

But this has not affected the enthusiasm of the students.

A group of 350 students (from 25 colleges) have been divided into 118 teams. Twelve models will make it to the finals. Token cash awards of Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 will be given to the winner, two runners-up and two third-prize winners, respectively.

Next year's theme has already been finalised - an international airport terminal at Vishakapatnam. The Airports Authority of India has given the required details of the proposed project.

When asked whether the models of the students had any chance of being implemented, the INSDAG official said, "Every year we create albums detailing these models. These albums are sent to several organisations and Government bodies. People concerned can work on these models but we do not try to sell these models."

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