COVID-19 was a disruptive event, the likes of which the modern world had never seen, much less imagined. The pandemic-induced social distancing norms, which were initially instated for a couple of months, have only just been withdrawn after two complete years. The most drastically hit were businesses worldwide,including the real-estate and construction sector. Operations ground to a halt, supply chains collapsed and projects crawled at a painstaking pace as everyone scrambled to make sense of the norms of this new world where communication was remote and safety was of paramount importance.

So, understandably, after two years of virtual meets and events attended over con-calls, the excitement was palpable as we convened in person at the Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai, on August 26, 2022, to recognise and felicitate the top architects and builders of the nation.

The event was preceded by VIP networking, where industry stalwarts who had come to receive their awards and the eminent jury members who assessed and picked the winners from the multitude of entries mingled and swapped anecdotes on the ongoings of the industry and their thoughts on the post-pandemicworld. The overarching sentiment was one of optimism with a quest for innovation and a never-say-die spirit. Thirty-seven companies – builders and architects – from across India made it to the winning list of CWAB 2022 across categories.

In the words of the dignitaries…

The selection methodology

With as many as 700 nominations, the process to do justice to every single entry is long-drawn, tedious and an event in itself. Elaborating on this arduous six-month operation that culminated in such a glamorous ceremony, Falguni Padode, Co-Founder and Group Managing Editor, ASAPP Info Global Group, said in her welcoming address, “These CWAB awards, as they are now known, were born 17 years ago. The intention was to recognise and award excellence amongst the design-build community.”

The process begins by inviting nominations across all categories early in the year. This year, CWAB Awards received 715 nominations across categories: National Architects and Builders, Regional Architects and Builders, and Noteworthy Projects from across the country. All the shortlisted nominees were vetted by a separate jury assembled for each group.

Winnerspeak!

“It is always a delight to be here and be chosen by the jury for the CWAB awards,” saidNiranjan Hiranandani, Founder and Managing Director, Hiranandani Group. “Construction has been an important part of the India growth story. It contributes to GDP growth and brings along immense employment opportunities. We are doing a great job for the country.”

Raman Sapru, Director-Design and Engineering, K Raheja Corp, said, “This award is no less than the responsibility – which we fairly acknowledge. ESG is the basic foundation of our business, and we completely resonate with the theme of this year. This is a collective work of all our stakeholders, employees and everyone who has put their sweat into it.”

And, Dinesh Dubey, COO West India, Prestige Estates Projects, expressed, “It is great to be back in bone and flesh after the pandemic and to gather here together. We have entered the Mumbai market and it has been more than welcoming to us. We owe this to our 12,000 employees and 350,000 families who stay on the Prestige properties.”

Speaking on the theme of sustainability, Yatin Patel, Founder & Principal, DSP Design Associates, said, “S.W.O.T. really resonates with the kind of work we do. We decided 50 years ago that we would design for green whether our customers wanted it or not.”

SP Patki, Principal Architect, PG Patki Architects, said, “I have stated before that CWAB is akin to the ‘Hollywood’ of awards. I would like to build on that this year: This is the closest one can get to a national award for an architect. That is what all of us look for –recognition for all the hard work that we do over the years.”

Delivering a commendable project is not a piece of cake. It takes multiple hands and brains working in sync towards one goal. As Ravi Sarangan, Founder & Director, Edifice Consultants, said eloquently, “To be acknowledged among the best of architects is the result of all the efforts put in by the Edificians – the boys and girls at Edifice who have toiled hard, especially through the last two years of the pandemic.” He dedicated the award to his hard-working team saying, “This award is in memory of the two of them who lost their lives during the pandemic.”

In agreement with Patki and Sarangan, Sanjay Puri, Principal Architect, Sanjay Puri Architects, said, “It is really not about one principal partner but the whole team.” He applauded CW for conducting the awards every year in spite of the lockdown and the pandemic.

More than just validating good work, awards like CWAB 2022 aim to give the industry a boost to push for the better. AbhaNarain, Principal & Founder, AbhaNarain Lambah Associates, said, “It is an absolute privilege. We are humbled and encouraged to do better work.”

“We are here this evening to celebrate those with intention who have made it.”

On 15th August, on the 75thanniversary of India’s Independence, CW completed its 25thyear. Welcoming His Excellency Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Governor of Maharashtra, and addressing the rapt audience comprising the winners, attendees, sponsor partners and jury members, Pratap Padode, Founder, FIRST CONSTRUCTION COUNCIL & CONSTRUCTION WORLD, said, “It feels CW has made a small contribution by having stayed for 25 years out of those 75, witnessing the progress of the building and construction industry.” Here are some excerpts from his inaugural speech:

 “At the base of every trade, occupation and profession is character.”

Partners in success

Commenting on his partnership with CWAB 2022, Ashish Bhasin, Founder and Managing Director, Marmo Solutions, said, “This was our first year of partnering with CWAB and it has been a prolific experience – an evening that celebrates victory among the top notch and emerging architects and builders of the industry. Right from the exclusive networking opportunity in the VIP pre-event to being a part of presenting the awards, wegot the opportunity to interact with the industry and come close to understanding its requirements. Marmo Solutions believes in ensuring quality, which is what we experienced in this partnership as well.”

For his part, Dinesh Agarwal, Joint Managing Director, Panasonic Life Solutions, shared, “Over the years, CWAB has built strong credibility of recognition for exemplary architecture and interior work and residential/commercial projects. Panasonic is committed to providing products and technology solutions for creating these modern infrastructure and spaces.”

“It has been a great industry opportunity for KEI Industries to be part of CWAB 2022,” said Anil Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director, KEI Industries. “We had insightful exchanges with the winners of the awards and other stakeholders present during the event. The interactions and response on KEI from everyone present at the event were excellent and we look forward to continuing sharing our knowledge, products and services at such forums for fruitful business associations.”

And the celebration continued!