Bucharest, May 13, 2025 – RBJ – Isopan Est, part of the Marcegaglia Steel and Manni Group joint venture, a market leader in the production of metal insulated panels, announces the launch of the sixth edition of the prestigious international architecture competition: the Manni Group Design Award. Romanian architects are invited to take part in this global competition organized by Manni Group, a company with over 80 years of experience in steel construction and a strong commitment to energy efficiency and the circular economy. The competition highlights innovation, sustainability, and offsite technologies—areas in which Isopan plays a key role through advanced thermal insulation and high-performance architectural envelope systems designed for a more responsible built environment.
This year’s theme is “Vertical Farm,” a challenge that calls for the reimagining of modern cities through sustainable architecture. In a global context marked by accelerated urbanization, climate change, and food security concerns, participants are invited to develop innovative concepts for vertical farms—modular, energy-efficient structures that integrate seamlessly into urban landscapes. This type of architecture paves the way for resilient urban ecosystems and productive spaces that address emerging urban needs.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for young Romanian architects to showcase their vision on an international stage. The competition not only offers a substantial financial prize, but also valuable exposure to a panel of world-renowned professionals. We hope this edition will spotlight the creativity and capability of Romanian architects to contribute to the sustainable transformation of future cities,” said Toni Pera, General Manager of Isopan Est.
Through its offsite solutions, Isopan Est supports the development of such projects by offering industrialized systems tailored to the demands of sustainable architecture. These systems enable rapid assembly, significantly reduce construction waste, and ensure a high level of quality control. Isopan’s insulated panels are optimized to maintain a stable indoor environment—critical for the functioning of vertical farms—and help create energy-efficient, safe, and durable buildings. This approach supports both the immediate functionality of the projects and long-term goals of reducing environmental impact.
The competition is judged by a prestigious international panel of globally recognized architects: Fokke Moerel (MVRDV), Arne Emerson (Morphosis), Ming-Jen Hsueh (Sasaki), and Paul Woolford (HOK). Their expertise will be essential in selecting projects that successfully integrate aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability.
This year, the competition is supported by top international partners, such as ROCKWOOL, which will award the Gold Mention for “Fire Safety” to projects using Isopan’s mineral wool core solutions, and BASF, the global chemical industry leader. Additionally, Italian company Zero, specializing in vertical agriculture, is a strategic partner in the Future Farming Initiative—a project developed in collaboration with Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and funded by the Next Generation EU program. The competition is held under the patronage of the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles.
Participation in the Manni Group Design Award 2025 is open to individual architects or multidisciplinary teams, regardless of nationality, as long as at least one team member is under the age of 35. The deadline for project submission is May 21, 2025. The total prize pool for the competition is €15,000.
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Isopan, part of the joint venture between Marcegaglia Steel and Manni Group, is the market leader in the production of metal thermal insulation panels. With over 50 years of experience in manufacturing insulated metal panels, Isopan has been active in Romania since 2007. Headquartered in Verona, the company operates globally, with production lines located in Italy (Pozzolo Formigaro, AL; Trevenzuolo, VR; and Patrica, FR), as well as in international facilities in Spain, Romania, through Isopan Est, Poland, and Mexico, strategically positioned to serve the North American market. The joint venture operates on both the Italian and international markets under the ISOPAN and MARCEGAGLIA RWD brands.
Isopan Est offers solutions that combine material functionality, sustainable processes, user safety, and energy efficiency for buildings—whether new constructions or energy-retrofitted structures serving both the Romanian market and neighboring countries.
