The Australian Institute of Architects’ Queensland chapter has announced the winners of their annual President’s Prize and Philip Y. Bisset Planning (Architecture) Scholarship.
The announcement event was held at Customs House on 20 February and presented by outgoing chapter president Caroline Stalker.
In 2026, the winner of the President’s Prize was Ipswich City Council, recognised by the jury “for [their] outstanding urban design leadership in the creation of the role of City Architect,” which was established in 2025 to bring creative problem-solving skills and urban design thinking to complex, city-shaping projects.
According to the jury’s citation, the award acknowledges the council’s “exemplary commitment to urban design excellence as a core civic responsibility and a driver of public value for the people of Ipswich.”
“By appointing a City Architect, Ipswich City Council has strengthened the quality of public investment, and recognised the value of design in supporting economic vitality, environmental resilience and community wellbeing,” the jury’s citation notes.
The award was accepted by Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic.
The event also included an announcement of an additional, belated 2025 President’s Prize winner: Cairns Regional Council, awarded the prize for their creation of a city architect role in 2024, which was accepted by Mayor Amy Eden.
“With a strong focus on climate resilience and responding to the city’s tropical setting, the [city architect] role supports a range of important planning and design initiatives in the city, including urban structure planning, guiding infill housing, revitalising public spaces and shaping a vibrant, inclusive and resilient city centre,” the jury’s citation reads.
“Cairns Regional Council has embedded the City Architect within its decision-making processes and positions the role to influence not only development assessment, but also the strategic shaping of the city. In doing so, Council has elevated the importance of architecture, urban design and placemaking in guiding growth and transformation, ensuring that public investment delivers high-quality, people-focused outcomes.”
The winner of the Philip Y. Bisset Planning (Architecture) Scholarship was Sophie Barrett of Brisbane practice M3 Architecture. The $15,000 prize enables Barrett to pursue architectural research abroad, after which she will bring her findings back to Queensland.
The winners are:
2026 President’s Prize
Ipswich City Council
2025 President’s Prize
Cairns Regional Council
2026 Philip Y. Bisset Planning (Architecture) Scholarship
Sophie Barrett
Source: Architecture - architectureau
