Cairo Univ.'s faculty of Architecture wins 2nd Prize at Int'l Green Building Competition in France

CAIRO - 28 May 2026: Cairo University has achieved another international accomplishment, adding to its academic and research record.

 

A team from the Faculty of Architecture won second prize for best thesis at the international student competition held during the 8th Mediterranean Green Forum 2026, hosted by the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Florence in Florence, Italy.

 

The forum, themed "Renewable Energy for Nature: For a Livable Mediterranean Urban Environment," brought together over 350 experts from various disciplines and sectors worldwide to discuss visions for sustainable and future-oriented green buildings and cities.

 

The winning team included Sandy Bassem Morris, a fourth-year architecture student; Fatima Ehab Ragab, a Cairo University engineering graduate; and Shahd Dargham, a teaching assistant in the architecture department.

 

The team was supervised by Dr. Mohsen Abu El-Naga, Professor of Sustainable Built Environment in the architecture department.

 

 

Applying Renewable Energy in the Sustainable Building Sector

 

A number of faculty members, teaching assistants, students, and graduates from the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University participated in the forum's activities, presenting research papers and engaging in discussions during scientific sessions.

 

The aim was to highlight the role of renewable energy applications in the sustainable building sector as a foundation for a positive energy future, with a focus on the Mediterranean region to mitigate the risks of climate change.

 

The forum also emphasized the pivotal role of young talent in envisioning and designing the cities of the future.

 

Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel-Sadek, President of Cairo University, expressed his pride in this achievement, affirming that this international recognition reflects the distinguished academic standing the university enjoys regionally and internationally.

 

He added that it demonstrates the quality of the educational and research process within the Faculty of Engineering and the ability of its students and researchers to compete in major global forums, particularly in fields related to sustainability, green architecture, and renewable energy.

 

 

The University's Focus on Green Transition

 

The President of Cairo University added that the university places great importance on applied scientific research related to sustainable development and the green transition, as it plans to prepare generations capable of providing scientific and practical solutions to contemporary environmental and climate challenges.

 

He pointed to the university's pioneering role in sustainability, having established the first Sustainable Development Office among Egyptian universities.

 

This office has led to the creation of green offices within the university's faculties, which work to generate innovative and applicable ideas in the field of sustainability.

 

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Shawky, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, explained that this international achievement reflects the distinguished academic level of the faculty's students, graduates, and researchers. He also highlighted their ability to provide innovative architectural solutions that take into account the concepts of sustainability and the green transition.

 

He further added that this success is "a result of the university administration's continuous support in building an integrated educational system that combines academic excellence, practical training, and applied scientific research."

 

The Mediterranean Green and Renewable Energy Forum is one of the leading international events specializing in sustainable building and clean energy.

 

The forum featured four plenary sessions and eight technical sessions, including 72 scientific presentations by 224 speakers and researchers from various countries, including Egypt, Italy, China, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Morocco, Tunisia, and the Netherlands.

 

The forum provided an open and inclusive platform for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to exchange knowledge and explore innovative strategies and technologies for shaping the cities of the future in the Mediterranean.

 

It emphasized that nature-based and renewable energy solutions are not merely technological tools, but rather catalysts for fostering a new alliance between humanity and nature.