The presentation ceremony of ‘IAB Design Award 2016’ was held on February 4, 2017 at IAB Centre as a part of the events held alongside the Installation Ceremony of the 22nd Executive Council of Institute of Architects of Bangladesh. ‘IAB Design Award’ is the highest honor in the field of architecture in Bangladesh to recognize and honor the creative excellence of architects of Bangladesh. Initiated by IAB in 1996, the award has a two year cycle. In October 2016, design submissions were invited from members of IAB for the 8th cycle, i.e. 'IAB Design Award 2016'. For this cycle of awards, the 21st Executive Council of IAB revised the categories to include a wider range of projects. It has 8 categories depending on use and occupancy types. For the first time, awards were given for new categories such as Socio-Cultural and Others, which include Renovation, Landscape and Urban Design. In the program, Engr. Mosharraf Hossain MP, Hon’ble Minister for Housing & Public Works, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh attended as the Chief Guest. Ar. Yeafesh Osman, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology was also present in the ceremony as the Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker. Among 46 entries in 8 categories- Residential: Single Family Houses, Residential: Multiple Housing, Educational, Public, Socio-Cultural, Commercial, Industrial and Others, 6 awards were given in 6 different categories this year. The winner in Residential: Multi Family category was Ar. Jalal Ahmed of J. A. Architects Ltd. He was awarded for his project- Disappearing Lands: Supporting Communities Affected by River Erosion, located at PashchimBelkar Char, Gaibandha. Ar. Naim Ahmed Kibria, Principal Architect, Indigenous was awarded as the winner in the Educational category for Bidyabhuban at Purbodhola, Netrokona. In the Socio- Cultural category, Ar. Md. Ehsan Khan was the winner for Bangladesh Mohila Samity Complex at Bailey Road, Dhaka. In addition, there were three Commendation Award winners in ‘Commercial’, ‘Industrial’ and ‘Others’ categories. Ar. Mahmudul Anwar Riyaad, Ar. Mamnoon Murshed Chowdhury of DWM4 Architects and others for Bay’s Edge Water at Gulshan, Dhaka were awarded in Commercial category. In the Others category, Ar. Iqbal Habib, Ar. Ishtiaque Zahir and Ar. Ehsan Khan of Vitti Sthapati Brindo Ltd. were awarded for Integrated Development of Hatirjheel Area, Dhaka. The Jury of IAB Design Award 2016 was comprised of the following eminent Bangladeshi architects – Ar. Nahas A. Khalil, Ar. Dr. Abu Sayeed M. Ahmed, Ar. Rafiq Azam, Ar. Ziaul Islam and Ar. Marina Tabassum. IAB Design Award 2016 was coordinated by Ar. Shaila Joarder, Secretary, Environment & Urbanism, IAB. Engr. Mosharraf Hossain MP, Hon’ble Minister for Housing & Public Works, Government of the people’s republic of Bangladesh handed over the crests, while Ar. Yeafesh Osman, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology presented the certificates, crests and IAB Design Award plaques to the award winners. Ar. Shaila Joarder, Coordinator, IAB Design Award 2016, moderated the program. In her introductory address, she mentioned that for professionals who win the IAB Design Award, it is a form of achievement and a measure of self-assessment. Members of 21st and 22nd Executive Council of IAB along with more than 700 IAB members and other invitees were present in the program. The business organization who partnered with IAB in organizing the event are – Asian Paints (BD) Ltd, Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, Tilottoma Trade Centre, RAK Ceramics (Bangladesh) Ltd, Evergreen Trading International, Tushin Emporium, Great Wall Ceramic Industries Ltd, Mirpur Ceramic Works & Khadim Ceramics Ltd, M.I. Cement Factory Ltd and Master Concrete Block Manufacturing.