Continuing professional development
Conference series for professionals

Following the success of its previous three seasons, the CAA is pleased to announce the launch of Season 4 of its continuing professional development conference series for professionals.

Season 4 – THE 2024 CAA AWARDS SHOWCASE

Season 4 of the CAA CPD program will focus on celebrating the award-winning projects and individuals at the 2024 CAA General Assembly held in August this year in Kigali, Rwanda. The awards showcase celebrates the significant achievements of individuals, spotlights projects at the forefront of social impact and environmental sustainability, and celebrates the work of emerging designers and students who are pushing the boundaries to deliver stimulating proposals addressing climate and urban challenges. of our time.

Session 1 – CAA Environmental Impact Award – Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) by Mass Design Group, Rwanda

World Cities Day – October 31, 2024 (12:00 UTC)

The first 60-minute session will be presented by Mass Design Group and will focus on their project, the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), grand prize winner of the CAA Environmental Impact Award.

The Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) provides an exemplary alternative model for sustainable agriculture, land use and construction worldwide. RICA will be the first climate-positive campus of its kind, leveraging a unique agricultural model, sustainably sourced materials and off-grid energy sources. Campus embodied carbon will be approximately 60% lower than the baseline approach for institutional work and RICA is expected to be climate positive by 2040, from then on removing more carbon than was produced during the establishment and ongoing operations of the campus.

The jury commended the project for “…its holistic approach and harmonious integration of architecture with the principles of the circular economy and its sensitivity to the local context…The project goes beyond simple construction , encompassing ecological considerations, community engagement and education. , thus fostering a deep connection with local culture and ecology. It constitutes an exemplary model of sustainable development, demonstrating the profound impact that thoughtful, context-sensitive architecture can have on communities and the environment.

Join us to hear Mass Design Group talk about its dedicated, climate-positive architectural approach and to explore the many sustainable innovations being implemented at RICA, producing positive social and environmental impacts on the community and showcasing an alternative model of agriculture sustainable.