Architecture

The winners of the Australian Institute of Architects 2025 National Architecture Awards have been revealed at a ceremony held at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.
Forty-six distinguished projects have earned an award or commendation from a pool of 77 shortlisted entries.
Jury chair and immediate past national president of the Institute Jane Cassidy commented that the celebrated projects demonstrate a transition “to sustainable low-operational and embodied carbon; to passive-first, all-electric principles; to local and ethical sourcing; to caring for Country; to regenerative practice and embedded biodiversity, social inclusion and connectedness; to waste minimisation and adaptive reuse and recycling; and away from the excesses of the past.”
“The projects we encountered this year are more than structures: they are systems of care, of connection, of transformation,” she said. “This year we have seen a body of work that is unafraid to ask difficult questions – about equity, climate and care.”
“In an era defined by climate urgency, digital disruption and social fragmentation, the national awards provide more than recognition – they offer a compass. They help us navigate toward a built environment that is generous, grounded and just. They remind us that architecture is not just about what we build, but how we build, and for whom,” Cassidy added.
Alongside Cassidy, the 2025 jury comprised Ninotschka Titchkosky FRAIA, architectural innovator; Yang Yang Lee RAIA, architect at Lee Yang Yang Architect; Martyn Hook RAIA, professor at RMIT University and founding director at Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects; and Kavita Gonsalves, associate principal and sustainability design lead Asia-Pacific at Populous. You can read the jury chair’s overview here.
The winners are:
Public Architecture
The Sir Zelman Cowen Award
Yarrila Place – BVN

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National Awards
Eva and Marc Besen Centre – Kerstin Thompson Architects
Truganina Community Centre – Jasmax (Canvas Projects)
National Commendations
Allan Border Oval Pavilion – Archer Office
Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre – Lyons
Educational Architecture
The Daryl Jackson Award
James Cook University Engineering and Innovation Place – Kirk with I4 Architecture and Charles Wright Architects

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National Awards
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Rosebery – Neeson Murcutt Neille
The Shed, University of Tasmania – Wardle
National Commendation
Pascoe Vale Primary School – Kosloff Architecture
Commercial Architecture
The Harry Seidler Award
Northern Memorial Park Depot – Searle x Waldron Architecture

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National Award
Everlane Cremorne – Fieldwork
National Commendations
39 Martin Place – Tzannes (lead architect) and Lendlease Integrated Solutions (executive architect)
Melbourne Place – Kennedy Nolan
The St Lukes Building – Terroir
Interior Architecture
The Emil Sodersten Award
Babylon House – Casey Brown Architecture

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National Awards
Melbourne Place – Kennedy Nolan
New Castle – Anthony St John Parsons
National Commendation
Boot Factory and Mill Hill Centre Precinct – Archer Office
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
The Robin Boyd Award
Hedge and Arbour House – Studio Bright

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National Awards
Lagoon House – Peter Stutchbury Architecture
Mapleton House – Atelier Chen Hung
New Castle – Anthony St John Parsons
National Commendation
Henville Street House – Philip Stejskal Architecture
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
The Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award
Niwa House – John Ellway

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National Awards
Gunn Ridge House – Kennedy Nolan
The Stopover – Taylor Buchtmann Architecture
National Commendations
Carlton Cottage – Lovell Burton Architecture
Cloaked House – Trias
Shadow House – Grotto Studio
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
The Frederick Romberg Award
Blok Three Sisters – Blok Modular in collaboration with Vokes and Peters

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National Awards
Indi Sydney – Bates Smart
Shiel Street North Melbourne, Community Housing Project – Clare Cousins Architects
National Commendation
Sirius Redevelopment – BVN
Sustainable Architecture
The David Oppenheim Award
First Building – Bradfield City Centre – Hassell

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National Award
Metronet Morley-Ellenbrook Line Project – Woods Bagot with TRCB, TCL and UDLA
National Commendations
Canberra Hospital Expansion – BVN
Flinders Chase Visitors Centre – Troppo Architects
Heritage Architecture
The Lachlan Macquarie Award
Parliament of NSW Restoration – Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Purcell Architecture

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National Award
The Australian War Memorial New Entrance and Parade Ground – Studio SC
Urban Design
The Walter Burley Griffin Award
Sydney Metro City Stations – Sydney Metro
International Architecture
Australian Award
Reuben College – FJC Studio

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Small Project Architecture
National Awards
Denman Village Park Amenities – Carter Williamson Architects
Geelong Laneways: Malop Arcade – NMBW Architecture Studio with Aspect Studios
National Commendation
Sofia Bistro – Sans-Arc Studio
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
Flinders Chase Visitors Centre – Troppo Architects
Enduring Architecture
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Cultural Centre – Gregory Burgess
National Emerging Architect Prize
Kali Marnane More

The winners and finalists of the 2025 Victorian School Design Awards have been announced, celebrating the state government’s “world-class learning spaces” across the state.
The awards program was open to architects and principal designers of Victorian government school projects or Victorian government-funded kindergartens or early learning facilities, completed between June 2023 and June 2025. According to a government media communique, this year’s awards received a record number of entries across schools, early childhood, and First Nations design categories.
The winners are:
Best new kindergarten or early learning facility
JFK Design for St Kilda and Balaclava Kindergarten
Best school project – below $5 million
WHDA for Swan Hill Specialist School
Best school project – between $5 million and $15 million
BSPN Architecture for Moonee Ponds West Primary School
Best school project – above $15 million
Kerstin Thompson Architects for Northcote High School
Best project – First Nations design
ARM Architecture for the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence
Minister’s Award
Perkins Architects for Footscray City Primary School

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Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll offered his congratulations to all the winners and finalists, describing them as “an integral part of [the state’s] nation-leading education construction boom.”
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn added, “These outstanding designs show how we’re creating inspiring spaces where every Victorian child can thrive from the very start.”
The full list of winners and finalists can be accessed online. More

Populous and Stewart Architecture have been appointed to deliver the reference design and design brief for the most significant update of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra since it opened in 1981, more than four decades ago.
The two architecture firms will be joined by Ngurra Advisory, guiding Indigenous consultation, and Arcadia Landscape Architecture, responsible for the landscape design.
The AIS Podium Project, commissioned by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), involves the construction of three new buildings for use by athletes training for Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games, as well as other world championship events. The project includes a multi-storey accommodation building for more than 200 athletes, an indoor sports dome for all-weather training, and a high performance training and testing centre to be established at the 163-acre campus in Canberra’s northern suburb of Bruce.
According to a communique from the architects, the brief from ASC calls for buildings that meet high environmental standards, use passive design strategies and allow for future adaptability.
Practice principal of Stewart Architecture Marcus Graham said the firms’ aim is to deliver inclusive, efficient facilities that work together as a cohesive campus. The communique notes that the campus will be designed to accommodate users of all ages and abilities, from young to mature athletes, along with coaches and support staff.

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Aside from an upgrade to the multipurpose AIS Arena in 2024, the campus has seen little change since it was first built. Director and senior principal at Populous Al Baxter noted that when the AIS first opened in the 1980s, it set a global benchmark for high-performance sport.
“The model was replicated by countries around the world … As we head to the Brisbane Games in 2032, these works will ensure a new legacy and long-term value for Australia and its athletes,” said Baxter.
The reference design and design brief are expected to be finalised in 2025, with the infrastructure anticipated to be delivered in time for key sporting events, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Brisbane 2032.
The final design will be shaped by consultation with athletes and will require approval from the National Capital Authority. More

The Victorian government has announced a ten-year plan that would see more than 5,800 hectares of greenfield sites across Melbourne and regional Victoria transformed into industrial land. According to the government’s media release, their vision is “to create jobs, attract investment, and give business the certainty it needs to grow.”
Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny commented, “We’re unlocking the land we need for the industries that power our economy – from freight and logistics to advanced manufacturing. This 10-year plan is about backing industry, backing jobs, and backing Victoria’s economy for the long-haul.”
The ten-year plan establishes a timeline for the release and rezoning of what the government describes as the state’s “most valuable tracts of industrial land,” in particular, the northern and western growth corridors of Melbourne and regional Victoria. Sites currently targeted include Merrifield North, Derrimut Fields, Altona North and Hastings, along with the regional precincts of Ballarat, Bendigo, Parwan and Avalon.
In addition, the government is accelerating rezoning by allowing parts of unzoned precincts to be fast-tracked if the required planning and infrastructure is already in place.
According to their vision, the state’s industrial land will need to cater for increased demand in warehouses and distribution centres, resulting from e-commerce and increased productivity from advanced manufacturing, automation and AI.
“AI is booming and data centres are the foundation of the digital economy. Availability of well-located and serviced industrial land in Melbourne is essential to support sector growth, offering ready access to skilled workers and proximity to clients advanced education and research services. The Victorian government is working to ensure that the energy and water needs of the sector can be sustainably met,” the plan reads.
In addition to ensuring industrial precincts are “powered sustainably by renewable energy”, the government’s emphasis is on “creat[ing] welcoming environments for workers and visitors. This includes high quality design and landscaping, public spaces and walking paths, wayfinding signage, lighting and security, and natural light integration into work spaces.”
The government expects the plan to unlock approximately $9.5 billion in new investment once fully developed.
Minister for Economic Growth Danny Pearson said, “This plan gives business confidence, cuts delays, and backs the people who build things, make things and move things – creating jobs and keeping Victoria’s economy strong.” More

Plans for a Wardle-designed commercial development on the edge of Hobart’s CBD are currently being exhibited via the City of Hobart’s major planning applications portal.
The proposal seeks to replace an existing locksmith’s building on a corner lot at 240–244 Murray Street with a new, five-storey building, which includes a flexible ground floor suited to a showroom or hospitality use, complete with end-of-trip facilities, three storeys of commercial office space above, and a fifth-floor roof terrace and meeting room.
According to the architect’s statement, “The building pays homage to Hobart’s history through its design, subtly referencing the Hobart union marches, ensuring the project contributes not only to the economic but also the cultural fabric of the city.”

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At the ground floor, the proposal adopts a rhythmic arrangement of concrete “marching columns” that nod to the city’s history of unionisation, which, according to the architect’s statement, originated with craft-based workers in the 1830s and ultimately led to the eight-hour workday that was secured by the city’s stonemasons in 1856. These columns are designed to anchor the corner of the site while giving pedestrians clear sightlines through the glazed ground floor envelope.
Above, a raked form tapers down toward the cluster of heritage red-brick dwellings on the site’s southern side. The proposal’s rippled precast concrete envelope, punctured with shrouded portal windows, draws inspiration from the character of the adjacent streets, along with the forms of protest banners historically displayed during union marches.

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At the roof terrace, the design of the building again nods to the city’s waterfront as a gathering point for early union marches, with key openings providing glimpses of the bay along with curated views of Kunanyi/Mount Wellington. On this level, the proposed landscaping aims to integrate Palawa knowledge of Indigenous flora, with native grasses and ground covers, as well as small banksia trees.
The advertised plans can be viewed online until 6 November. More

Managing director and principal at Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) Tara Veldman has been named the inaugural recipient of the Australian Health Design Council (AHDC) Gold Medal. The medal is awarded to nominees who demonstrate visionary leadership, a commitment to excellence and a significant contribution to the healthcare design industry.
Veldman possesses more than 20 years’ experience in healthcare design and was instrumental in growing BLP’s Sydney office from a solo operation in 2011 to a team of 70 professionals today. She became managing director of the national business in 2020.
A media release from BLP notes that “under [Veldman’s] leadership, BLP has pioneered ‘translational design’ – a collaborative methodology that brings together architects, researchers, clinicians, and patients to create healing environments grounded in rigorous evidence and deep empathy. This approach integrates environmental psychology, patient feedback, and cutting-edge research into every stage of the design process.”

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“I’m deeply honoured to receive this inaugural award,” said Veldman. “This recognition reflects the incredible work of our entire BLP team and our valued collaborators – the clinicians, patients, stakeholders and communities who partner with us to reimagine what healthcare environments can be. Together, we’re proving that thoughtful, evidence-based design has the power to heal.”
The judging committee comprised Kate Copeland, chair of the AHDC; Ron Billard of Ron Billard Consulting; Alex Belcastro of Northwest Healthcare REIT; Warren Kerr of Hames Sharley and committee member of the ADHC; and Isabelle Mansour of Mott MacDonald and secretary and events lead of the ADHC.
They commented, “Tara has made an invaluable and lasting contribution to healthcare design through her visionary leadership, compassion, and commitment to excellence. Her leadership on major projects in Australia has set new benchmarks for care.
“While her influence is strongest at the facility level, she also contributes as a thought leader and mentor, sharing knowledge and inspiring emerging designers, thereby shaping the future of healthcare design through both practice and professional development.” More

Architectural practices DKO and Aileen Sage have unveiled plans for the redevelopment of five historic warehouses on Sydney’s Wentworth Avenue, led by Willow Development Group.
The Edwardian warehouses at 4–22 Wentworth Avenue date from 1911 and are protected by a local heritage listing. Currently, the buildings are occupied by various retail and commercial tenancies.
According to a media communique, DKO and Aileen Sage’s proposal, which was selected following a design excellence competition, involves an adaptive reuse strategy that “balances heritage conservation with contemporary intervention, using the existing built fabric as a framework for innovative spatial and architectural expression.”

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With the designers’ aim being to reinforce the project’s urban and cultural relevance, their approach has been shaped by five core principles: expressing each warehouse’s individual character, streamlining circulation to connect the five buildings, designing for diverse tenancies, articulating a cohesive tower form and sensitively adapting the site’s heritage.
According to the media communique, the designers have worked with heritage consultant Jean Rice to utilise and retain as much of the existing building fabric as possible. At the same time, energy efficiencies have been designed into the redevelopment. These include 100 percent electrical services and solar PV harvesting, rainwater harvesting, and waste diversion.
DKO director of architecture and growth Rupert Reed reflected, “The heritage fabric of the site has always guided our design. This project is about cohesion – not just between buildings, but between disciplines, ideas and histories.
Rice added, “This was a true collaboration – one built on listening. The outcome is richer for the way stories of the site informed design decisions.”

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The proposal introduces a new commercial tower above the corner building at 4–6 Wentworth Avenue, envisioned as a prism-like form. Next door, at 8 Wentworth Avenue, a top-lit, glazed atrium space is designed to draw light deep into the site. This space is envisioned with lush landscaping and a spiral staircase.
According to director at Aileen Sage Amelia Holliday, “New works will balance cohesion and diversity through artful additions and sensitive heritage adaptations.” The proposal includes restoration of the warehouses’ current shopfronts with a contemporary language of detailed steel work in bold colours.
In terms of landscaping, landscape architect Dangar Barin Smith has developed a biophilic strategy for the development across sunken gardens, rooftop terraces and landscaped communal spaces that employ a palette of mostly Indigenous plants.

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The proposal has received development approval and is expected to commence construction in mid-late 2026.
Director of the Willow Development Group Michael Skala commented, “We feel incredibly privileged to be able to put our mark on Surry Hills and look forward to delivering a new calibre of workspace for Sydney and a new benchmark for commercial city fringe stock. This project will go further than just paying homage to its heritage, integrating the existing historic buildings into the landmark finished product that DKO and Aileen Sage have meticulously designed.” More

The Australian Design Centre (ADC) has announced it will cease operations by 30 June 2026 unless urgent alternative funding is secured, marking the potential end of a 61-year legacy supporting Australia’s craft and design community.
The decision follows confirmation that both the Federal Government (through Creative Australia) and the NSW Government (through Create NSW) will discontinue adequate operational funding from the 2025–26 financial year. Create NSW recently awarded ADC $150,000 per year for two years—a figure $350,000 short of the minimum $500,000 annual base required to sustain operations.
ADC board chair Elizabeth Espinosa said the volunteer board had “considered all other options” but could not see a viable path forward without renewed funding.
“Without core operational support to pay staff and cover administrative costs, we have no other choice but to cease operations by 30 June,” she said. “This means that NSW will be the only state or territory in Australia without an organisation dedicated to craft and design practice.”
The closure would have widespread repercussions for artists and audiences. ADC currently provides opportunities for around 1,000 artists each year, and its exhibitions attract up to 350,000 visitors annually. Exhibition programming in Sydney will end in February 2026, followed by the closure of the Object Shop in March 2026. Touring exhibitions will continue as scheduled until mid-2026.
ADC CEO and artistic director Lisa Cahill described the decision as “devastating,” highlighting a lack of transparency in recent funding decisions.
“Despite being recommended for funding by peer assessors, ADC no longer receives four-year funding from state and federal agencies. Clearly, craft and design are not a priority,” she said.
Founded in 1964, ADC has long been a vital platform for contemporary makers and designers, supported by the City of Sydney through its gallery space on William Street and by private philanthropy.
The board is now appealing for $350,000 per year in additional funding from government, corporate or private sources to keep ADC open beyond 2026. Enquiries or offers of support can be directed to Lisa Cahill at (02) 9361 4555 or lisa@australiandesigncentre.com More