NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa announced today that its Juruti bauxite mining project in Brazil was recognized recently during the IV Corporate Architecture Grand Prix, a corporate architectural awards program promoted by Brazilian publishing house Flex Eventos. Architect Márcio Mazza won the prestigious award in the Sustainability Category for extensive use of sustainable materials in the construction of the Juruti site. There are more than 30 buildings, corresponding to some 15,000 sq m. of construction area, using recycled materials. “The architectural project includes not only works for the Alcoa facility, but also for those of the Positive Agenda, a set of voluntary initiatives developed in partnership with the community and municipal authorities, to improve the quality of life of the local population, with immediate action in the areas of education, health and infrastructure,” explains Mauricio Macedo, Alcoa’s Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Manager in Juruti. Construction of the airport, Municipal Court and the Senai Professional Education Center are also being carried out using sustainable materials, such as small concrete columns made with cardboard molds and certified wood from the region. “Before starting this project, we researched local characteristics and discussed the feasibility of this work with the people in the community. From our learnings, we drew up the architectural plans. Today, the town is beginning to receive modern buildings that preserve natural resources,” says Architect Márcio Mazza. For masonry construction, unfired clay bricks dried in the shade and made from raw materials from the region were selected. The unfired bricks were produced by local town people following training. “This is a major contribution by Alcoa to the region, because IBAMA (the Federal Government’s environment department) had already closed two brickworks in the town for the illegal burning of wood,” says Mazza. Building coverings are composed of tiles made from recycled plastic and aluminum toothpaste tubes, as are the building’s inner divisions and ceilings. Traditional aluminum tiles are also used. The coverings that protect the new buildings in Juruti were planned after researching the large huts made by the Ianomâmi Indians. According to Mazza, the building’s verandahs also house various functions. “The buildings were strategically distributed to create large covered spaces, thus creating large shady areas for moving between the buildings, covered squares, gardens, etc. The project, therefore, adopts a typical regional solution, since Juruti was founded by two tribes – Munduruku and Muirapinima – and even today has a large population descended from these people,” the architect concludes.
