Last week, the Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA), in partnership with Deloitte, released the State of the City Report 2025, confirming Brisbane’s economy has surpassed $200 billion for the first time. The report positions Brisbane as one of the fastest-growing urban economies in Australia and the Asia Pacific—a trajectory with significant implications for the built environment.
For architects, the findings highlight opportunities to contribute design-led solutions that balance growth with sustainability, liveability, and cultural identity.
Key insights with direct relevance to the architecture profession include:
- A $100.6 billion infrastructure pipeline—presenting opportunities to embed design quality, resilience, and community benefit into projects shaping Brisbane’s future.
- 274,000 new jobs since 2020—driving demand for housing, workplaces, transport, and cultural infrastructure.
- The $22 billion health economy, the fastest growing in Australia—pointing to new healthcare and research precincts requiring world-class, human-centred design.
- A $28 billion increase in Brisbane’s economy since 2020—underscoring the city’s global reputation and transformation.
As Brisbane continues its growth trajectory towards 2032, architects will have an important role in ensuring the city’s expansion is matched by thoughtful, inclusive, and sustainable design.