Sydney-based architect Rana Abboud  from Codessi Architecture has been awarded the 2013 National Women in Construction (NAWIC) International Women’s Day Scholarship.

The prize for the competition is a $10,000 cash prize to develop and research a white paper, with Abboud choosing to investigate 'Architecture in an Age of Augmented Reality: AR’s Affordances for Design Visualisation, Construction Supervision and Post-Completion Maintenance'.

It is the second award that Abboud has received in a matter of months after receiving the inaugural CSR Cemintel 9 Dots Award for her house design ‘9 Dot House’ which makes creative use of off-the-shelf products.

The NAWIC scholarship, now in its fifth year, was judged by NAWIC’s chief executive officer, Sheryle Moon, design manager at Davenport Campbell, Lisa Dinham, and the 2012 scholarship winner, Laila Mehrpour.

Moon said:

"NAWIC was delighted with the calibre of the IWD Scholarship nominations.

“NAWIC is committed to removing the barriers to women’s participation in the construction sector, and to supporting a world-class industry through the involvement of women. Rana Abboud’s contribution will help us to advance our mission,” Moon said.

9 Dot House by Rana Abboud. Images courtesy Codessi

“The judges agreed that Ms Abboud’s proposed research has the potential to benefit our entire industry and to introduce a wide range of new roles that currently do not exist, with more career opportunities arising for women in construction.”