New South Wales
Student Architecture
Awards Program
NSW Student Architecture Awards
Celebrating the skills and talents of architecture students in NSW
The NSW Student Architecture Awards program was established in 2010 coinciding with the introduction of the Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees. The aim of the program is to promote the skills of architecture students in NSW.
NSW Student Architecture Awards program
2025 NSW STUDENT Architecture Awards Ceremony
See the full winners list, read the media release and view event photos...
2025 NSW STUDENT Awards Categories
KEY DATES
| Brian Patrick Keirnan Prize - Entries Open | Monday 11 November 2024 |
| Brian Patrick Keirnan Prize - Entries Close | Thursday 27 February 2025 |
| Nominated Students to submit their work | Monday 17 March 2025 - Friday 21 March 2025 |
| Student Exhibition | Monday 12 May 2025 |
| Student Presentations to Juries | Monday 12 May 2025 - Friday 16 May 2025 |
| NSW Student Architecture Awards Gala | Friday 20 June 2025 |
Nominated students of architecture will be able to submit their work for judging and be considered for the following awards:
- Graduate Medal (Masters program)
- Undergraduate Medal (Bachelors program)
- NSW Architectural Communication Award
- NSW Architectural Technologies Award
Each participating university will also nominate winners for the following awards (1 x winner per category for each university):
- Graduate of the Year (Masters program)
- Graduate of the Year (Bachelors program)
- History & Theory Prize
- Construction & Practice Prize
*University Prizes winners including Graduate of the Year (Masters program), Graduate of the Year (Bachelors program), History & Theory Prize and Construction & Practice Prize are provided by each university and not selected by the awards jury.
All nominees will exhibit their work as a part of the annual NSW Student Exhibition held at Tusculum.
The program also includes the Brian Patrick Keirnan Prize for Students of Architecture, where winner/s receive funding for overseas study, travel, and/or research.
Participating Universities:
- University of Newcastle
- University of Technology, Sydney
- Western Sydney University
- University of NSW
- University of Sydney
The Brian Patrick Keirnan Prize for Students of Architecture is a prize based on the theme of ‘Reimagining, Reinventing, and Reinterpreting Public Space’. The winner/s is awarded $10, 000 expressly for overseas travel and research and/or overseas study to enrich professional development.
Open to all current NSW students of architecture.
Full details available in our Student Awards Handbook.
Each university will nominate five graduate projects, five undergraduate projects and four individual prize recipients.
The following steps apply to projects that will be assessed for the NSW Graduate Medal, NSW Undergraduate Medal, NSW Architectural Communication Award and NSW Architectural Technologies Award.
Step 1: Each school will nominate a maximum of five graduate projects and a maximum of five undergraduate projects and communicate names and contact details via an online portal. Students can also self-nominate to enter the Brian Patrick Keirnan Prize by completing the online form.
Step 2: Nominated students will be briefed on the submission process and awards procedures.
Step 3: All students will be required to submit their work via the Institute’s online awards.
Step 4: Presentation to Jury: all nominees will be invited to make a five-minute presentation with 3 minutes of question time to the Student Awards Jury. Presentations to Jury are held on-site at Tusculum, the NSW Chapter Office, with the option to present virtually if needed.
Step 5: Winners will be announced at the NSW Student Architecture Awards.
The main entry requirements for the NSW Student Architecture Awards are as follows:
- The Awards are open to students of the accredited NSW Schools of Architecture. Entrants (including all entrants, and entrants part of group projects) must be members of the Institute (SONA Members).
- Group work shall be accepted for all Awards, nevertheless the number of students involved in the project must be clearly stated.
- Where an Award is made to a group submission, any prize or disbursement shall be split between the group members.
- To be eligible, projects must have been completed in the year preceding the year of judging.
- With regards to the University prizes, nominations are collated when final results become available at the end of each academic year.
Each of the categories are judged based on a different set of criteria:
NSW Graduate Medal and NSW Undergraduate Medal
- Engagement with and interpretation of the design brief
- Conceptual strength of the design – Innovative or experimental responses
- The depth of resolution
- The rigour and quality of research into relevant matters
- The effectiveness of the presentation
- Functional performance (assessed against the brief)
NSW Architectural Communication Award
- A resonance between the design and the mode of communication
- Architectural communication and presentation skill.
NSW Architectural Technologies Award
- Integration of technology, structure and construction
- The depth of the technical resolution and/or detailing
- Degree of technical innovation displayed
- A resonance between the design, the technical resolution and/or detailing
The 2025 Jury comprises
Student Awards:
- Kirby Rees, Essence Project Management
- Milly Meares, Together Design Studio, EmAGN
- Jason Fraser, Woods Bagot
- Tiffany Allen, Bates Smart
Brian Patrick Keirnan Prize:
- Elizabeth Carpenter, fjcstudio, NSW Chapter President
- Caleb Burke, Nick Bell Architects, Previous Winner
- Amelia Holliday, Aileen Sage Architects,
- Joshua Potter, COX
- Private Donor
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