Good architecture is not only apt design solutions, but also great workmanship. The best completed buildings were selected during the 14th edition of the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy competition. On April 10, 2025, Saint-Gobain announced the winners of the 14th edition of the competition at a ceremony held at a gala in Paris. Eighty-five projects from 29 countries took part in the international competition. There were also four Polish projects in the finals!
In the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy 2025 competition, the brightest and most talented contractors of gypsum systems competed in six categories: Ceilings, Innovation, Residential Construction , Culture, Education and Leisure, Commercial and Institutional Construction, and Facades - vying for the chance to win one of 14 prizes. Awards were given for 1st and 2nd place in each category, as well as the President's Award (or the jury's "coup de coeur") and the Grand Prix (awarded for the most exceptional project among all categories).
From the very beginning, innovation has been at the heart of Saint-Gobain's business, inspired by our customers, who allow us to continually develop solutions tailored to their needs and support the industry's growth. Over the years, we have strived to deliver the best products and services to our customers, and their feedback has been extremely valuable to us and has helped us improve and introduce new solutions. Our teams around the world value this cooperation and loyalty. We are committed to continuing on this path to excellence, always putting our customers at the center of everything we do. We have 360 years of youth behind us, and I want to thank our customers for being part of this history.
- says Thierry Fournier, Senior Vice President and CEO of Saint-Gobain's subsidiaries in Southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The winning projects were presented at a gala, which this time took place in a unique venue - the impressive ballroom of the 19th-century Salle Wagram building in Paris. What buildings won awards in the prestigious competition?
The winners of the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy 2025
Shebara South Island Resort - Grand Prix
Photo: Taklah Interiors © Saint-Gobain
Shebara Hotel - Grand Prix
The Shebara Hotel, a luxury complex with 73 suites located on the uninhabited island of Shaybara in the Red Sea, is distinguished by its unique floating capsules that protect the fragile marine environment and allow guests to fully immerse themselves in the beauty of the underwater world. Despite the challenging construction and installation conditions in this remote paradise corner, a perfect finish was achieved by using a variety of gypsum and non-gypsum products from Saint-Gobain's portfolio, successfully solving numerous technical challenges. Takla Interior Solution LLC is responsible for completing the facility.
Estádio Pacaembu - President's Award
Photo: Edvar Prates © Saint-Gobain
Estádio Pacaembu - President's Award
Brazil's new Pacaembu complex combines sports, recreational and cultural functions while paying homage to its historic heritage. The restored 1940s architecture uses more than 12,000 m² of Glasroc® X panels and 27,000 m² of drywall. Lightweight structures have been seamlessly integrated with traditional heavy structures thanks to Saint-Gobain's innovative solutions. Sustainability initiatives, such as the "Ciamon Recicla" waste management program, underscore the complex's commitment to the environment. The facility, honored with the AR Future Projects Award, sets a new standard in the design of multifunctional urban spaces. The realization of the complex was handled by Ciamon Revestimentos - Edvar Prates.
Exploration and Production Business Center - 1st prize in the Ceilings category.
Photo: Lorenzo Bartoli © Saint-Gobain
Business Center "Exploration and Production" - Ceilings
The "Exploration and Production" Business Center in Italy occupies about 70,000 m² and consists of three interconnected buildings surrounding a central plaza. It houses offices, meeting rooms, a conference room, a cafeteria and a restaurant that can accommodate up to 1,000 people. The buildings' unique shapes maximize daylight, while the green roofs and facades meet Class A energy requirements and LEED Gold certification standards. Demountable drywall ceilings on various levels showcase innovative architectural solutions and effectively overcome installation challenges. The entire project was completed by Coiver Contract S.r.l.
SC Asset Bangkok Boulevard Ratchaphruek - 1st prize in the Innovation category.
Photo: Kankasem Construction Co., Ltd. © Saint-Gobain
SC Asset Bangkok Boulevard Ratchaphruek - Innovation.
Bangkok Boulevard Ratchaphruek in Thailand is an exclusive residential development with an estate club inspired by Tate Modern. The asymmetrical architecture required the use of specialized materials, allowing for unlimited creativity. The project was completed in 3 months with the support of a Thai team and is distinguished by precise details and innovative uses of Glasroc® X, Isover and Weber products, for which Kankasem Construction Co., Ltd. was responsible.
Downtown One - 1st prize in the Residential Construction category.
Photo: Foel Ajasllari, Erisa Latifi © Saint-Gobain
Downtown One - Residential Construction
Downtown One in Tirana, is a mixed-use complex combining residential, office, retail and public spaces. It features bold forms, glass facades and green terraces, bringing nature into the urban fabric. As the first LEED-certified building in Albania, it showcases Saint-Gobain's lightweight facades and solutions, standing out in terms of assembly, performance and sustainability - despite limited resources. The construction of the building is the work of Kastrati Construction.
Educational complex "Au pied des champs" - 1st prize in the Culture, Education and Leisure category
Photo: Marie Brunel © Saint-Gobain
Educational complex "Au pied des champs" - Culture, Education and Free Time
This intercommunal French project combines three buildings into one, encompassing a kindergarten, elementary school, community center and common areas. Integrated with the surrounding nature, it meets E+C- (Energy and Carbon) certification requirements for energy efficiency, air quality, acoustic comfort and daylighting. Saint-Gobain Placo® solutions allowed the creation of complex forms with high-quality finishes, enhancing the comfort of children's spaces and supporting sustainability. ISOSAN Plâtrerie was responsible for the implementation.
Bejo Headquarters - 1st prize in the Commercial and Institutional Building category
Photo: Dave Weij © Saint-Gobain
Bejo Headquarters - Commercial and Institutional Construction
Bejo's new headquarters in the Netherlands, inspired by its agricultural roots, features curved walls, ceilings, stairs and glazing reminiscent of cabbage leaves. It provides a sustainable and comfortable work environment for 375 employees, with a 180-meter-long energy borehole at its heart. The project stands out for its attention to detail and perfect finish. The architect's vision was translated into reality by BENO Projectafbouw B.V.
Grand Island, Hyatt Vivid / Dreams - 1st prize in the Elevations category.
Photo: Fernando Pavel Vera © Saint-Gobain
Grand Island, Hyatt Vivid / Dreams - Elevations.
The Grand Island Cancun complex, a luxury resort on Kukulcan Boulevard in the Mexican city of Cancún, includes 626 rooms in the Vivid hotel and 400 in the Dreams hotel. By using the lightweight Plaka® XTERIUM system, additional structural loading was avoided, especially at heights exceeding 50 meters. Despite the demanding conditions, the project achieved an elegant, efficient and environmentally friendly solution. The facility was realized by Murano Global Investments Plc and We Care Construccion inteligente.
Polish realizations in the final of the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy 2025
The Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy 2025 finals also included four Polish realizations:
Urania Hall in Olsztyn - finalist in the Innovation category
© Saint-Gobain | Rigips
Urania sports and entertainment hall
One of the projects qualified for the finals was the URANIA sports and entertainment hall in Olsztyn, which was restored to its shine by PAINTER Usługi Remontowo-Budowlane from Jonkow. Thanks to the use of innovative renovation techniques, the facility qualified for the finals in the "Innovation" category. Built in 1978, Urania is a modernist hall with a distinctive dome, which for years has been an important point on the sports map of the region. As part of a comprehensive modernization that began in 2021, the number of seats was increased from 2,500 to more than 4,000, including those adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. It also added an outdoor ice rink, underground parking, and new judo, weightlifting and warm-up rooms. The hall also gained a conference room and modern sanitary facilities. The renovated Urania has again become an architectural landmark of Olsztyn, and its iconic dome has been strikingly illuminated.
Mercure Szczyrk Resort - finalist in the Culture, Education and Leisure category
© Saint-Gobain | Rigips
Mercure Szczyrk Resort
The second finalist in the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy 2025 competition was the Mercure Szczyrk Resort hotel, renovated and expanded by BPBP S.A. (Bielskie Przedsiębiorstwo Budownictwa Przemysłowego). The project qualified for the finals in the "Culture, Education and Leisure" category. The former "Eagle's Nest," opened in 1977 as a resort of the Katowice Steelworks, is located at an altitude of 660 meters above sea level at the foot of Mount Klimczok. After modernization, the facility offers 554 accommodations in 447 rooms, 5 food and beverage outlets, 14 conference rooms, a heliport, an aquapark and a SPA & Wellness area. The main 330-meter-long, 9-story building has a swimming pool with an opening roof dome and a direct connection to the cable car. Winter attractions are also planned, including a mini ski slope with an obstacle course and a conveyor belt lift for children.
Lakeside office buildings in Warsaw - finalist in the Commercial and Institutional Construction category
© Saint-Gobain | Rigips
Lakeside
Among the finalists for the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy 2025 was the Lakeside office buildings in Warsaw, developed by URB Paweł Więckowski Sp. z o.o.. The project qualified for the finals in the "Commercial and Institutional Construction" category. Lakeside is a modern office and service complex in Warsaw's Mokotow district, with a total area of 24,000 sqm. The two buildings are connected by a glass link and are distinguished by their geometric form and staggered floors. The spaces between the blocks are complemented by a courtyard with an openwork steel structure, while the rhythmic divisions of the facades and numerous glazings provide lightness and access to daylight. The development offers amenities for cyclists, chargers for electric cars, underground parking, a restaurant and a café. Surrounded by greenery and proximity to the Sluzewiecki Stream add to users' comfort. Lakeside is Atenor's first office building in Warsaw, designed by Group 5 Architects. The project has received BREEAM (Outstanding) and WELL (Gold) certificates, confirming its highest standards of sustainable and healthy construction.
Museum of Polish History in Warsaw - finalist in the Elevations category
© Saint-Gobain | Rigips
Museum of Polish History
The last Polish project qualified for the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy 2025 finals in Paris was the Museum of Polish History in Warsaw. The company Marek Kośka from Warsaw is responsible for the construction of the ceilings and drywall.This is one of the most modern museum buildings in Europe, with an area of over 44,000 m². The building has 6 floors (4 above ground, 2 underground), 180 m long and 48 m wide. Designed by the WXCA studio, it was completed in 2023. Its interiors include a 7,000 sq. m. permanent exhibition, temporary exhibition space (1,400 sq. m.), an auditorium for 577 people, a cinema auditorium for 135 viewers, and a rooftop observation deck. The building's façade, made of stones in various shades, symbolizes successive layers of Polish history. The museum also offers workshop rooms, refreshment facilities and conservation studios, creating a modern center for culture and education.
Congratulations to all finalists and winners!
