Club Cash becomes the only Uruguayan finalist to be recognized at WAF 2025.
Club Cash has been selected as a finalist in the Sports category at the 2025 World Architecture Festival, securing its place among the world’s most innovative sports architecture projects.
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Club Cash Receives Special Mention in the Sports Category at the World Architecture Festival
The World Architecture Festival (WAF), now in its 16th edition and held at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida, has once again established itself as the epicenter of global architectural excellence. Following the first day of the world’s largest live-judged international architecture event, the Club Cash project received a special mention in the Sports category.
Among more than 460 shortlisted finalist projects from hundreds of countries, studios from six Latin American nations helped highlight the talent and quality of regional architecture. In this context, Gómez Platero represented Uruguay with the social and sports project Club Cash, which was recognized in its category with a Highly Commended mention—placing it among the most outstanding projects on the global architectural scene.
One of the festival’s most distinctive features is its live judging format. Finalists present their projects before an international jury of experts and peers, allowing for direct and enriching exchanges. This dynamic makes the festival a unique platform for learning and inspiration, where each presentation is an opportunity to explore the technical, conceptual, and social aspects of the selected works.
Club Cash is a 6,700 m² sports, social, and cultural complex located on a 6.6-hectare site north of Montevideo, designed to promote community integration and connection with nature. The complex offers multifunctional spaces for sports, recreation, and social gatherings, seamlessly connecting indoor and outdoor areas through patios, gardens, and flexible spaces that reinforce the project’s natural and social character. Its modular and accessible design allows for adaptation to different uses and needs, establishing Club Cash as a benchmark for sports and social infrastructure in the city.
The recognition received by Club Cash in the Sports category reflects the growing prominence of sports architecture on the global stage. As sports and recreational infrastructure become increasingly important to urban quality of life, projects like Club Cash set new standards in design, sustainability, and user experience.
The World Architecture Festival is held alongside Inside, its sister festival dedicated to interior design, further expanding the scope and richness of the experience. Both events take place simultaneously, offering conferences, seminars, and networking opportunities that foster collaboration and the exchange of ideas across disciplines.
The 2025 edition of WAF stands out for the presence of internationally renowned studios such as Bjarke Ingels Group, Foster + Partners, Studio Gang, and Grimshaw, alongside emerging firms bringing fresh perspectives. The geographic diversity is equally impressive, with strong participation from the Americas, China, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Canada, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Japan.
This recognition at WAF is not only a testament to design and innovation but also an opportunity to put Club Cash on the radar of the international architectural community. The project, like the festival itself, demonstrates the transformative power of architecture to create spaces that inspire, connect, and improve people’s lives.
Global Trends in Sports Architecture
The rise of sports architecture reflects a growing demand for infrastructure that is not only functional, but also inclusive, sustainable, and adapted to new urban lifestyles. Club Cash embodies this trend, with a design that prioritizes flexibility, energy efficiency, and integration with the environment.
The recognition received by Club Cash at WAF 2025 underscores the importance of reimagining sports spaces as drivers of social cohesion and urban development. This honor invites us to reflect on the future of sports architecture and its role in building healthier, more resilient, and vibrant cities.
Find out more about the event here
