The Colombian university EAFIT, located in the city of Medellin, has confirmed its leadership in sustainable architectural innovation by becoming the only Colombian institution recognized in the 2025 edition of the Global Award for Sustainable Construction, organized by the Holcim Foundation. The winning project, titled “Parque Origen” (Origin Park), stood out for its transformation of the campus and its strong commitment to the environment, the community, and aesthetics.
Why was the Colombian university EAFIT recognized for its sustainable construction?
The Holcim Foundation Award highlights projects that combine innovation, design, and sustainability with both social and ecological impact. In this edition, EAFIT’s Parque Origen was selected among dozens of initiatives from around the world for its ability to transform an obsolete building into a living green lung where architecture and nature blend seamlessly.
The jury highlighted several key aspects of the Colombian project:
Use of recycled materials: More than 90% of the structural elements of the old Building 3 were reused in the construction of the new park. Beams, columns, and concrete were transformed into walkways, stands, and urban furniture.
Ecological restoration: The project made it possible to recover Quebrada La Volcana, a stream that runs through the campus, restoring its natural course and reforesting its surroundings with native species.
Functional and community-centered design: The park features water gardens, urban orchards, pedestrian paths, and open spaces that promote biodiversity and interaction among students, professors, and visitors.
Thanks to this combination of technology, ecology, and community participation, EAFIT became the first Colombian university to receive this international recognition, consolidating its leadership in the field of university sustainability.
Parque origen: A living classroom of sustainability
Parque Origen is not just a physical space but also a pedagogical project that invites reflection on how architecture can respond to climate change and promote more conscious urban development.
Designed by the firm Connatural: Arquitectura en el Paisaje and built by Nivelum, the project is part of the Master Plan Universidad-Parque-Cuenca (University–Park–Basin Master Plan), a vision that seeks to connect the campus with the city, water, and the landscape of the Aburra Valley.
Today, the park serves as a living laboratory where academic activities, environmental restoration experiments, and ecological education projects take place. Moreover, its design has turned the campus into a replicable model for other higher education institutions across Latin America.
This recognition from the Holcim Foundation not only honors EAFIT University but also positions Colombia as a global benchmark in sustainable construction. In a context where cities are seeking greener and more resilient solutions, Parque Origen demonstrates that sustainability can be seamlessly integrated with art, science, and community.