Projects / 1/22/2025

21st International Reference Grand Prix: Celebrating excellence in global construction projects

From ultramodern stadiums to historic landmarks, Mapei's innovative solutions bring durability and excellence to iconic projects worldwide, transforming challenges into successes.

Every year the Mapei Group rewards the best building projects its subsidiaries have been involved in around the world over the previous year. The competition has reached its 21st edition and embraces every kind of building project to underline the sheer range and variety of the products on offer. Here is a presentation of the winning projects.

Raiffeisen Arena LASK – Linz – Austria

In this ultramodern stadium with over 19000 seating places, which was officially opened in February 2023, ceramic tiles were installed on 6000 m² within just two months thanks to the use of high-performance adhesives such as KERAFLEX MAXI S1, KERAQUICK MAXI S1, ULTRALITE S1. The substrates in the wet areas were waterproofed with MAPELASTIC TURBO or MAPEGUM WPS. The ULTRATOP LOFT system was used to lay 250 m² of cementitious floors in the Lask Fanshop, which is located next to the Arena.

Raiffeisen Arena LASK – Linz – Austria

Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo Cancer Research and Treatment Center - Bogotá - Colombia

The center is one of the most modern institutions specializing in cancer treatments in Latin America. Designed with sustainable materials, its architectural project aimed to reduce energy consumption by 30-40% and achieve LEED Healthcare V.03 Gold certification. The facility features 230 beds, a hotel, and has the capacity to care for over 7,000 patients annually. The project involved the installation of 6,000 m² of porcelain tiles using KERABOND PLUS adhesive, 37,000m² of vinyl flooring with ULTRABOND ECO V4SP, and 3,500 m² of textile floors with ULTRABOND ECO TACK TX+. The center won the Interior Architecture prize at the 2022 Colombian Architecture and Urbanism Biennial.

Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo Cancer Research and Treatment Center - Bogotá - Colombia

Fehmarnbelt Tunnel – Denmark/Germany

The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, set to be completed in 2029, is the world's longest immersed tunnel at 18 km long. It will connect Denmark and Germany and feature four road lanes and two rail tracks. Its construction required an investment of 7 billion euros. Mapei Denmark supplied 200 tons of MAPEPOXY LS epoxy adhesive, will be supplying 1 million liters of MAPECURE HARDENER impregnator for concrete and 700 tons on for foam release agents.

Fehmarnbelt Tunnel – Denmark/Germany

Private residence pool - Cairns - Australia

A complete system was required for waterproofing, installation and grouting operations in this private pool. The project involved challenges such as a number of different tiles, glass mosaics, and large pavers used and the need for anti-efflorescence products. PLANITOP SMOOTH AND REPAIR was used to repair the concrete shell, before waterproofing the pipes with MAPEPROOF SWELL and LAMPOSILEX and the substrates with PLANISEAL MR and MAPELASTIC SMART. Installation of stone tiles and glass mosaic was completed with KERAPOXY ADHESIVE before grouting the joints with KERAPOXY EASY DESIGN and sealing the expansion joints with MAPESIL AC.

Private residence pool - Cairns - Australia

Santo Domingo Convent and Church - Lima - Peru

This historic Dominican monastery and church date back to the 16th century. Located in the historic center of Lima, they are renowned for their Baroque architecture. The Santo Domingo Church is one of eight churches recently restored with the help of Mapei products as part of the local authorities’ recovery program for Lima’s historic center. Systems from the MAPE-ANTIQUE line were used to restore more than 12,000 m² of surfaces on the domes, façades, and exterior walls.

Santo Domingo Convent and Church - Lima - Peru

Middelkerke Casino - Belgium

This entertainment complex located along the North Sea coast features a vibrant casino floor, dining options, and event spaces, providing a lively destination for both gaming and leisure activities. In order to limit the impact of its construction on the environment, a few Mapei sustainable installation systems were specified. Mapei products were used for building screeds (MAPECEM PRONTO), preparing substrates (NIVORAPID, ECO PRIM T PLUS, ULTRAPLAN RENOVATION), installation of textile floors (ULTRABOND ECO TACK TX+) and of LVT wall and floor coverings (ULTRABOND ECO MS 4 LVT WALL&FLOOR).

Middelkerke Casino - Belgium

Grand Victoria - Hong Kong

Grand Victoria is a luxury waterfront residential development offering stunning views of Hong Kong's iconic Victoria Harbor. Developed in three phases, it comprises 1,437 apartments across 11 residential buildings. The complex includes indoor and outdoor swimming pools, jacuzzis, function rooms, a sports court, vitality studios, and two basement-level car parks. Mapei provided solutions for bonding various types of ceramic coverings (KERACOLOR FF, KERAFLEX, KERAPOXY, ULTRACARE KERAPOXY CLEANER) in the indoor spaces of the towers and outdoor areas along the shoreline.

Grand Victoria - Hong Kong

Respublika Residential complex - Kiev - Ukraine

This modern high-rise building is located in the heart of the Ukrain capital. It offers luxurious apartments with stunning views of the cityscape. The complex features state-of-the-art amenities, including a fitness center, swimming pool, and 24-hour security. It's designed to provide a cozy atmosphere and a comfortable and upscale living experience for its residents. During its construction, a lot of MAPEI products were used, especially for treating substrates (PRIMER G), installing ceramic tiles (ADESILEX PG9), grouting joints (KERACOLOR FF, ULTRACOLOR PLUS), sealing expansion joints (MAPESIL AC) on balconies and indoor areas.