Sesc Parque Dom Pedro II, in São Paulo, has been recognized by the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction as one of the four Latin American proposals awarded in the 2025 edition of the Holcim Awards. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, the foundation is among the most prestigious global institutions dedicated to architecture and sustainability. The project was coordinated by architects Fernanda Barbara and Fabio Valentim while they were partners at Una Arquitetos and remains under their direction today as founding partners of UNA barbara e valentim.
Project Name: Sesc Parque Dom Pedro II
Studio Name: UNA barbara e valentim
The awards ceremony will take place on November 20 during the Venice Architecture Biennale, bringing together professionals from around the world who are contributing to a more responsible and innovative built environment.
Now in its 8th edition, the Holcim Awards celebrate projects that combine architectural excellence, innovation, sustainability, and social impact. It is regarded as a global benchmark in responsible construction and has previously honored architects such as Francis Kéré (2012) and Alejandro Aravena (2011) – both Pritzker Prize laureates – as well as Bjarke Ingels (2014), founder of BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group. The international jury for the 2025 cycle includes Sou Fujimoto (Japan), Jeanne Gang (USA), and Lina Ghotmeh (Lebanon), while the Latin American jury is chaired by Sandra Barclay (Peru) and includes Gustavo Utrabo (Brazil).
With completion scheduled for 2026, the Sesc Parque Dom Pedro II project materializes UNA barbara e valentim’s ongoing research and commitment to urban transformation. Located in São Paulo’s historic downtown, the project proposes a gesture of reconnection between the city and a territory long marked by fragmentation, weaving together public space, culture, and nature in an open and permeable architectural structure.
“The award recognizes a project with a strong public character, one that embodies the possibility of reuniting the city with its origins. The Tamanduateí River was São Paulo’s first point of entry, but Parque Dom Pedro II became a barrier after the construction of viaducts in the late 1960s. This work seeks to reestablish the relationship between the city’s geography and its history,” says Fernanda Barbara.
“More than a building, Sesc Parque Dom Pedro II proposes new urban connections in a key area of São Paulo. The architecture opens itself to the city, creating a shaded plaza and integrating into the urban fabric as a gallery – a space for circulation and encounter. There is a profound social dimension that stems directly from an urban plan,” adds Fabio Valentim.
Designed without walls and fully open to its surroundings, the building integrates spaces for social interaction, a library, cafeteria, performance hall, and a rooftop aquatic complex. Beyond its inclusive and revitalizing approach to São Paulo’s historic center, the project prioritizes sustainable construction strategies such as clean energy generation, energy efficiency, passive thermal control (including generous natural ventilation and façade shading), and a substantial expansion of green areas through a central courtyard, landscaped terraces, and tree planting throughout the site.
Sesc, short for Serviço Social do Comércio (Social Service of Commerce), is a Brazilian nonprofit institution maintained by the business sector in trade, services, and tourism. It develops programs in culture, education, sports, health, and social welfare, aiming to promote well-being and ensure democratic access to formative and cultural activities.
“The presence of Sesc will be key to drawing attention from the city, authorities, and community leaders to the importance of revitalizing the Parque Dom Pedro II area. It will provide cultural, sports, and social opportunities to a population long underserved, addressing a vital gap in the region’s social and cultural infrastructure.” comments Luiz Deoclecio Massaro Galina, Diretor do Sesc São Paulo.
The Holcim Foundation recognition adds to a series of national and international honors the project has received in recent years, including the Buenos Aires International Biennial (2024), the Santa Cruz Architecture Biennial (2022), the IABsp Award (2021), and the Saint-Gobain AsBEA Architecture Award (2021), among others.
