Victoria’s most outstanding new architecture has been revealed in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2026 Victorian Architecture Awards Shortlist. Comprised of over 200 entrants, the shortlist represents the cutting edge in architectural innovation from the state’s sharpest design minds.
The shortlist for 2026 acts as a roadmap to the new building projects that are shaping Victoria’s contemporary built environment. The shortlist encapsulates design excellence, attracting hundreds of entrants across 15 categories from diverse practices and regions throughout the State. The Australian Institute of Architects is the country’s peak body for architecture, and the Victorian Architecture Awards are the state’s premier design prize.
Australian Institute of Architects 2026 Victorian Architecture Awards Jury Chair, Simon Knott, explained the jury’s shortlisting process and focus for this year’s Awards.
“Sustainability continues to be a priority focus within the industry, with targets and criteria becoming increasingly demanding. Sustainability is no longer a layer applied to a project — it’s woven into the design process from the brief phase, through to completion, and across every discipline and decision. The growing focus on embodied carbon has made adaptive re-use a genuine imperative within Architecture. Working with what already exists is, in many ways, the most responsible position we can take,” said Knott,
“Recognition of First Nations custodianship has also become a meaningful and necessary part of how Architects work. There’s a real range of approaches emerging — some practices are engaging directly with Indigenous practitioners to genuinely Design with Country, while others are finding quieter ways to acknowledge the depth of place that precedes our interventions. Either way, this is now a shift in thinking that is becoming widespread across the industry.”
“Public benefit and impact are shaping projects in major ways. Even where a project is ostensibly private, there’s a growing expectation to consider the broader effect a building has on its surroundings and community. Making projects more comfortable for all, such as designing for neurodivergence is an increasing design driver.”
“And then there’s the reality of cost. Rising austerity is forcing all of us to think harder about doing more with less — which, when approached thoughtfully, often produces better architecture. It also loops back, of course, to sustainability: restraint and resource efficiency are not separate conversations.”
Each year, the projects in the Victorian 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 the 19th of June. Thank you to our event sponsors: Allegion, Alspec Aluminium, AWS Australia, Bate Smart, Blue Scope AUS, Colour Bond Steel, BLDG, City of Melbourne, Dulux, Heritage Council VIC, Interface ANZ, K Five Furniture, Lysaght Australia, McKay Timbers TAS, AW Nicholson PTY LTD, VIC Gov Architect, Siniat Australia and Uni Melb.
Find more info on each project below via our Project Gallery available here.
2026 Shortlist
Commercial Architecture
- Wesley Place Precinct | COX Architecture
- Woodlea Sales Hub | Craig Tan Architects
- 65 Dover Street, Cremorne | Fieldwork
- 500 Bourke Street | FK
- Norwich Plaza, Ballarat | FORUM Studio
- ACC Farran Hall at Trinity College, University of Melbourne | Hayball
- Cloud 9 | NMBW Architecture Studio + Sendit.Archi
- Yiaga | Wardle
- Younghusband | Woods Bagot
Educational Architecture
- Yarra Ranges Special Development School | Architecture architecture
- Emmanuel College Warnambool – Year 9 Learning Centre | Baldasso Cortese
- St Francis Xavier College Berwick GPFLA | Bellemo & Cat
- Port Phillip EcoCentre | Bourke and Bouteloup Architects
- Verrocchi Centre – Ruyton Girls’ School Performing Arts and Learning Resources Centre | Draper Noxon and Hayball in Association
- Braemar College Stage 2 + 3 | Hayball
- 24/7 Latelab | Kosloff Architecture
- Mordialloc Beach Primary School – Foundation Learning Centre | McIldowie Partners
- Peninsula Specialist College | Project 12 Architecture
- Rushworth P-12 College Technology Centre | Sibling Architecture
Heritage
- Sunbury Community Arts & Cultural Precinct | Architecture Associates with Openwork
- Maribyrnong Civic Precinct and Community Hub | DesignInc
- ACC Farran Hall at Trinity College, University of Melbourne | Hayball
- Balam Balam Place | Kennedy Nolan + Openwork + Finding Infinity
- Trades Hall Stage 3 | Lovell Chen
- 425 Collins Street | Lovell Chen
- This is Lumeah, featuring Paul Couch | Pepper & Well
- Palmerston Street House | Robert Simeoni Architects
- Younghusband | Woods Bagot
- Borland Crossman House | WOWOWA Architecture
Interior Architecture
- Sunbury Community Arts & Cultural Precinct | Architecture Associates with Openwork
- Log house | Elida De Felice Architect
- ACC Farran Hall at Trinity College, University of Melbourne | Hayball
- Murrup Barak | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
- House of Light | Jolson Architecture & Interiors
- William Street Chambers | Kennedy Nolan
- Balam Balam Place | Kennedy Nolan + Openwork + Finding Infinity
- 24/7 Latelab | Kosloff Architecture
- Wyndham Law Courts | Lyons
- Studio8 | Partners Hill
- Palmerston Street House | Robert Simeoni Architects
- Yiaga | Wardle
Public Architecture
- Sunbury Community Arts & Cultural Precinct | Architecture Associates with Openwork
- Peninsula University Hospital | Bates Smart and Architectus
- Port Phillip EcoCentre | Bourke and Bouteloup Architects
- New Footscray Hospital | COX Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership
- Pakenham Station | Genton
- Melbourne Metro Tunnel | Hassell, WW+P & RSHP
- Balam Balam Place | Kennedy Nolan + Openwork + Finding Infinity
- Wyndham Law Courts | Lyons
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations & Additions)
- Terracotta House | Lande Architects
- Anglesea Beach House | Lovell Burton Architecture
- Gore St House | Olaver Architecture
- Studio8 | Partners Hill
- Northcote Residence V | Project 12 Architecture
- Palmerston Street House | Robert Simeoni Architects
- House Freddie | Studio Bright
- Crescent House | Studio Bright
- Fitzroy North House | Therefore
- Eleanor | Topology Studio
- Borland Crossman House | WOWOWA Architecture
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
- Ora House | Archier
- Mount Macedon House | Ben Lance Architects
- Hislop Hill House | Clare Cousins Architects
- House in a Garden | EDITION OFFICE
- Bruce Street | MUIR Architecture
- A Courtyard House | Office MI—JI
- Bank Street House | Prior Barraclough
- Eyrie Residence | Schmölzer Architecture
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
- Northcote Townhouses | Birthisel Wittingslow Architects, Studio Esteta and Carr
- Neighbourhood | Breathe Architecture and Kerstin Thompson Architects
- Northumberland Road Community Housing | Caleb Smith Architect
- Brunswick Yard | Carr
- Journal Living Campus House | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
- HCA Belmont | Kennedy Nolan
- Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi | Kennedy Nolan
- Elizabeth Street, North Richmond – Big Housing Build | Kerstin Thompson Architects + Hayball
- 9 Wilson Ave | MA+Co
- Merri Northcote | Six Degrees Architects
- SDA Housing Project | Studio Bright
- Gore Street | Woods Bagot
- Shand Road | Ys Housing
Small Project Architecture
- Tender | Placement
- Theatre Works | Nelson and Koo
- Fitzroy Neighbourhood House | Kennedy Nolan
- Swift Walk Arcade | Lian Architects with Hayball
- Memorial Room | Jolson Architecture and Interiors
Urban Design
- Wesley Place Precinct | COX Architecture
- New Footscray Hospital | COX Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership
- Melbourne Metro Tunnel | Hassell, WW+P & RSHP
- Preston Crossing | Hayball
- St Kilda Pier Redevelopment | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects, Site Office Landscape Architecture and AW Maritime
- Balam Balam Place | Kennedy Nolan + Openwork + Finding Infinity
- Merri Northcote | Six Degrees Architects
Colourbond® Award for Steel Architecture
- Emmanuel College Warnambool – Year 9 Learning Centre | Baldasso Cortese
- Balam Balam Place | Kennedy Nolan + Openwork + Finding Infinity
- Summerhill Village | Tandem Design Studio
- Kerrimuir Primary School Gymnasium & Learning Centre | Studio Bright
- Shand Road | Ys Housing
The Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize
- New Footscray Hospital | COX Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership
- Melbourne Metro Tunnel | Hassell, WW+P & RSHP
- St Kilda Pier Redevelopment | Jackson Clements Burrows Architects, Site Office Landscape Architecture and AW Maritime
- Balam Balam Place | Kennedy Nolan + Openwork + Finding Infinity
- Wyndham Law Courts | Lyons
- Younghusband | Woods Bagot
EmAGN Project Award
- Sunbury Community Arts & Cultural Precinct | Architecture Associates with Openwork 6
- Swift Walk Arcade | Lian Architects with Hayball
- This is Lumeah, featuring Paul Couch | Pepper & Well
- Meeniyan Community Hub | Public Realm Lab
Regional Prize
- Bunjil Wellbeing Place | Billard Leece Partnership and Workshop Architecture
- Swan Hill Tourism and Cultural Experience Centre | Common ADR
- 12 Apostles and Poombeeyt Koontapool Lookouts | Denton Corker Marshall
- Bendigo Community Health Services – Eaglehawk Site. | EBD Architects
- Meeniyan Community Hub | Public Realm Lab
- Rushworth P-12 College Technology Centre | Sibling Architecture
Sustainable Architecture
- Union social housing | atelier wagner
- Port Phillip EcoCentre | Bourke and Bouteloup Architects
- Maribyrnong Civic Precinct and Community Hub | DesignInc
- Caulfield Grammar School, Senior School Teaching and Learning Building 01 | DesignInc Melbourne and 3XN
- Melbourne Metro Tunnel | Hassell, WW+P & RSHP
- Balam Balam Place | Kennedy Nolan + Openwork + Finding Infinity
- 24/7 Latelab | Kosloff Architecture
- Materia | Obsessive Architecture
- Younghusband | Woods Bagot