Two architecture students from Ajman University have won the “Giving Back To The Community” Challenge in Dubai organised by global design firm, P&T Group.

The students from Ajman University have secured the first and second position beating the other top universities around the country e in a challenge to present affordable and desirable architectural ideas that will serve the current and futures youth needs of the UAE.

His Excellency Saif Rashed Al Mazroui representing the Minister of State for Higher Education & Advanced Skills presented the joint winners of the first place AED10,000 prize and internships with P&T Group were announced to be Nahel Al Darwish and Abdelrahim Al Rinawi.

Eight other competitors were also awarded honourable mentions in the challenge, set this year to celebrate the architecture and engineering firm’s 150th Anniversary and 15 years in the UAE.

HE Shaikha Nahla AlQassimi, Board Member of the Society of Engineers, judged the awards alongside DAFZA Senior Manager, Ahmed Ali Al Mahmoud, RIBA Gulf Chair, Sumaya Dabbagh and four of P&T Group members. P&T Group partnered with their two organisations in in support of 2021 Dubai Plan, 10X Dubai, Smart Dubai, Youth Hub, 2071, and Dewa 2050.

Stephan Frantzen, design director at P&T Group, said: “The competition gives students in the UAE a chance to take an active part in the discussion about how to improve urban spaces between buildings and how we live in high-rise buildings.”

The evaluation criteria upon which the students were judged included form, function, innovation, environmental and sustainable solutions, and presentation. The winning design will be submitted by P&T Group to the Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Majlis, in their efforts to encourage designs that align with the country’s Smart City initiative, though the
students will retain copyright over the ideas. AlQassimi emphasised. “The competition promotes smart, sustainable, and efficient design concepts among young architects”