New South Wales’ most outstanding new architecture has been revealed in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2026 NSW Architecture Awards Shortlist. Comprised of over 120 entrants, the shortlist represents the cutting edge in architectural innovation from the state’s sharpest design minds.
The shortlist for 2026 (detailed on the following pages of this media release) acts as a roadmap to the new building projects that are shaping NSW’s contemporary built environment. Attracting hundreds of entrants from the cities and regions, the NSW shortlist highlights the value of design-led thinking, ensuring good design principles are embedded in planning and delivery across 13 categories, including sustainability within the built environment, encompassing all aspects of residential, community and commercial building design.
2026 Jury Chair, Bill Tsakalos, explained the jury’s shortlisting process and focus for this year’s Awards.
“The Australian Institute of Architects New South Wales Architecture Awards are a vital glimpse into the future of our profession. They reveal how shifts in thinking, approach, and values are continually reshaping architecture, acting as a barometer for emerging priorities and recalibrating expectations of what design can achieve. The Awards influence practitioners, constructors, and clients alike, communicating evolving standards, aspirations, and responsibilities while reflecting contemporary concerns around culture, environmental stewardship, and changing ways of living,” said Tsakalos.
“Ambitious in scope, the program spans every scale—from a single-room addition to complex urban design—ensuring innovation is recognised in both modest and landmark projects. This breadth highlights the diversity of practice and a shared commitment to excellence.”
“Beyond recognition, the Awards foster dialogue, inspire innovation, and sustain the profession’s relevance, encouraging architects to challenge conventions and deliver thoughtful, enduring, and meaningful outcomes.”
Each year, the projects in the NSW Architecture Awards shortlist are selected by an esteemed panel of industry experts and leaders. A comprehensive judging process by the jury determines the eventual winners of the Awards, which will be announced on 2 July 2026.
Find out more information on the NSW Architecture Awards Program, including the 2026 Jury, here.
The 2026 NSW Architecture Awards night is on Thursday 2 July 2026.
GET YOUR TICKETS – early bird tickets are available until 28 May.
Find more info on each project below via our Project Gallery available here.
2026 Shortlist
COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
- Baaka Culture Centre | Kaunitz Yeung Architecture
- Casa Dos | Lippmann Partnership
- Galuwa Recreation Centre | AJC Architects
- Greybox | Welsh + Major
- Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment | ARCH
- House Gretchen | Lintel Studio for Architecture
- Lune de Sang Sheds 3 & 4 | Choi Studio
- Mark Taylor Oval Pavilion | Archer Office
- Putty Passiv | Anderson Architecture
- Willowdale Sports Pavilion | Sam Crawford Architects with Lymesmith
Commercial Architecture
- 15 Khartoum Rd, MPark | Choi Studio
- 25hours Hotel The Olympia | Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects
- 33 Alfred Street | JPW
- 42 Honeysuckle Drive | Bates Smart
- Baaka Culture Centre | Kaunitz Yeung Architecture
- lyf Bondi Junction | Bates Smart
- New Sydney Fish Market | 3XN in association with BVN and ASPECT Studios
- Parkline Place | Foster + Partners with COX Architecture
- Surry Hills Village | SJB and Studio Prineas
- The Lands by Capella | Hassell in collaboration with Purcell Architecture
Educational Architecture
- Eungai Creek Campus | AJC Architects
- Green Square Public School and Community Spaces | BVN
- Macquarie University – Engineering Innovation Building | Woods Bagot
- Oakhill College Hilltop Precinct (Commons & Innovation Hub) | BVN
- St Bede’s Catholic College | SHAC
- UNSW Health Translation Hub | Architectus
EmAGN Project Award
- Alcheringa | Ironbark Architecture
- Clay House | Muci
- Pier Pavilion | Besley & Spresser
- Sapling | Anderson Architecture
- Tree House | ASA (Alexander Symes Architect)
Heritage
- 33 Alfred Street | JPW
- Entertainment Hall White Bay | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design with Placemaking NSW
- GSDA Dwelling No.1 Recovery | Hector Abrahams Architects
- Old Bega Hospital | Design 5 – Architects
- Sydney Harbour Bridge Northern Access Cycleway | Collins and Turner with Design 5 architects, Aspect Studios, Eckersley O’Callaghan
- The Lands by Capella | Hassell in collaboration with Purcell Architecture
Interior Architecture
- Brise Soleil | Carter Williamson Architects
- CBRE Sydney | Bates Smart
- GPT HQ | BVN
- State Library NSW Public Areas | Andrew Andersons and Cullen Feng
- Surrey 112 | Smart Design Studio
- Swansea Heads House | Anthrosite
- The Corner Shop House | Downie North
- The Lands by Capella | Hassell in collaboration with Purcell Architecture
- Wollemi Capital | Ciliberto Architects
Public Architecture
- Campbelltown Station Commuter Car Park | Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects
- Central Station | Woods Bagot in collaboration with John McAslan + Partners
- Crows Nest Metro Station | Woods Bagot
- First Steps Count Child and Community Centre | Austin McFarland Pty Ltd
- Gilgandra Library + Community Hub | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design
- Mark Taylor Oval Pavilion | Archer Office
- New Sydney Fish Market | 3XN in association with BVN and ASPECT Studios
- Pier Pavilion | Besley & Spresser
- Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport | COX Architecture, Zaha Hadid Architects and Woods Bagot
- Willowdale Sports Pavilion | Sam Crawford Architects with Lymesmith
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations & Additions)
- Clay House | Muci
- Darlinghurst House | Anthony Gill Architects
- Denj Lane | Carter Williamson Architects
- Fort House | Curious Practice
- House Gretchen | Lintel Studio for Architecture
- House in Rosebery | Architect George
- Kyoto House | Breakspear Architects
- Lilyfield House | Tribe Studio
- Playhouse | Carter Williamson Architects
- Rainbow House | Virginia Kerridge Architect
- Rows End | Retallack Thompson
- Surrey 112 | Smart Design Studio
- The Corner Shop House | Downie North
- Tree House | ASA (Alexander Symes Architect)
- Wilsons Cottage | Casey Brown Architecture
- Zulaikha Laurence ‘Tree Change House’ | Studio ZAWA
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
- Coogee House III | Tribe Studio
- Cowrie Hole | Curious Practice
- EA House | Bokey Grant
- Enclave House | Bohane Campo
- Exeter House | Luke Moloney Architecture
- Garden Courtyard House | Grove Architects
- Gerroa House | Scale Architecture
- Gingkin | Incidental Architecture
- Holocene House | CplusC Architects + Builders
- House of shadows | Atelier Marks Gaal
- Norton Street | Plus Minus Design
- OK House | Stephen Collier Architect
- Queenscliff House | Chenchow Little
- Saddleback Mountain House | Casey Brown Architecture
- Sapling | Anderson Architecture
- Swansea Heads House | Anthrosite
- Swirling Waters | Peter Stutchbury Architecture
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
- Boronia | Turner
- Cowper Street Housing | JPW
- Crossroads | Mackenize Pronk Architects and Make Projects
- Egan Street 2020 | Kieran McInerney Architect
- Goonellabah Houses | Pearson Architecture
- Habilis | Collins and Turner
- Lacebark | Smart Design Studio
- Newmarket South | Bates Smart, SJB + Neeson Murcutt Neille
- Norton Street | Plus Minus Design
- Surry Hills Village | SJB
- The Cambridge | Architectus
- Waterloo Metro Quarter – Social Housing | Bates Smart
Small Project Architecture
- Broken Workshop | Atelier Luke
- Carpe Diem Pavilion | Collins and Turner
- Gladstone Park Amenities | Benn + Penna Architects
- Magenta Outhouse | Atelier Marks Gaal
- Optus O Pavilion | Architectus
- Permanent Camping Orange | Casey Brown Architecture
- Perry Park Pavilion | Scale Architecture
- The Southern Lookout | AJC Architects
Sustainable Architecture
- 33 Alfred Street | JPW
- Campbelltown Station Commuter Car Park | Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects
- Cowper Street Housing | JPW
- Crossroads | Mackenize Pronk Architects and Make Projects
- Eungai Creek Campus | AJC Architects
- Field Rooms | MAPA Art and Architecture
- First Steps Count Child and Community Centre | Austin McFarland Pty Ltd
- Gerroa House | Scale Architecture
- Gilgandra Library + Community Hub | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design
- Gingkin | Incidental Architecture
- Greybox | Welsh + Major
- Sapling | Anderson Architecture
- Tree House | ASA (Alexander Symes Architect)
- Zulaikha Laurence ‘Tree Change House’ | Studio ZAWA
Urban Design
- Gilgandra Library + Community Hub | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design
- New Sydney Fish Market | 3XN in association with BVN and ASPECT Studios
- Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 | COX Architecture
- Surry Hills Village | SJB, Studio Prineas and Aspect Studios
- Sydney Harbour Bridge Northern Access Cycleway | Collins and Turner with Aspect Studios, Eckersley O’Callaghan and Design 5