National and
Chapter
Architecture
Awards Program

The 2020 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture – Joint winner | Marrickville Library | NSW | BVN | Photographer: Tom Roe

National Architecture Awards

Celebrating design excellence
and its contribution to communities Across australia
and abroad

The Institute is dedicated to the promotion of Australian architects and architecture in both national and global arenas. Since 1981, we have upheld excellence in the profession by recognising best practice in the field through our National Architecture Awards program and inspiring others to continue striving to positively shape communities through architecture.

National Architecture Awards program

Winners

The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture - House (New) - Joint Winner | East Street | Kerstin Thompson Architects | NSW | Photographer: Dan Preston

Jury Chair and Immediate Past National President Professor Helen Lochhead said that 44 projects were recognised, 25 with national awards and 19 with commendations.

About the program

2019 WA Architecture Awards | George Temple Poole Award | Perth Children’s Hospital | JCY Architects and Urban Designers, Cox Architecture and Billard Leece. Partnership with HKS Inc | Photographer: Peter Bennetts

The Awards Program enables public and peer recognition of the innovative work of our members.

Chapter Architecture Awards

#TheBaeTAS | workbylizandalex | Tasmania | Photographer: Sean Fennessy

The Institute’s Chapter Architecture Awards program run throughout June and July. In 2019, a total of 185 projects were awarded at the chapter level.

National Architecture Awards

The 2019 Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award | Terrarium House | John Ellway | Queensland | Photographer: Toby Scott
The Institute’s Awards Program enables public and peer recognition of the innovative work of our members.

Awards and prizes Policy

The 2019 David Oppenheim Award | Parliament of Victoria Members' Annexe | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design | Photographer: John Gollings

If you are planning to submit an entry into the 2020 Chapter Architecture Awards, we recommend that prior to commencing your entry, you become familiar with the Awards, Prizes and Honours Policy. 

Contact

Yagan Square by Lyons in association with Iredale Pedersen Hook and landscape architects ASPECT Studios. Photo: Peter Bennetts

For further details, contact your local chapter or the National Awards and Prizes Manager. 

Key Dates

The 2019 Frederick Romberg Award | Mermaid Multihouse | Partners Hill with Hogg & Lamb | Queensland | Photographer: Alex Chromicz

Key dates relating to the 2021 Chapter Architecture Awards are listed here. Please check with your local Chapter on information relating to Chapter specific requirements. 

Awards and prizes Policy

The 2019 David Oppenheim Award | Parliament of Victoria Members' Annexe | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design | Photographer: John Gollings

If you are planning to submit an entry into the 2021 Chapter Architecture Awards, we recommend that prior to commencing your entry, you become familiar with the Awards, Prizes and Honours Policy. 

Contact

Yagan Square by Lyons in association with Iredale Pedersen Hook and landscape architects ASPECT Studios. Photo: Peter Bennetts

For further details, contact your local chapter or the National Awards and Prizes Manager. 

About the National Architecture Awards Program

Fish River Ranger Accommodation | Design Construct, School of Art Architecture and Design, University of South Australia | NT | Photographer: Joti Weijers-Coghlan

Recognising excellence at regional, chapter and national levels

The Institute’s Awards Program enables public and peer recognition of the innovative work of our members, and provides the Institute with a valuable mechanism to promote architects and architecture across Australia and internationally.

The National Architecture Awards is an integrated, hierarchical program resulting in annual awards at National, Chapter (State and Territory) and, in some states, Regional levels. To enter the National Architecture Awards, Institute members submit projects at the relevant chapter or regional level depending on the project’s location. 

Awards in each category are based on a three-tier system, in decreasing order of merit. Only State or Territory Named and Architecture Awards progress to be considered for a National Award. 

Entry requirements

Enter the 2021 Awards

To enter the Australian Institute of Architects Architecture Awards Program, an entrant must be a registered architect and Institute member. To be eligible to enter, entrants must:

  • be an architect registered in the State or Territory of the project, and
  • be an Institute Member at the time of entry, and
  • be a principal of the practice who owns, or is a formal licensee, of the copyright in the work being entered.

It is a requirement of entry that all entrants read and understand the Awards Entry Handbook. The Handbooks are an excellent resource of helping to develop a successful awards entry. Give your project the best possible chance to succeed and familiarise yourself with the Handbook before commencing your entry.

View 2021 awards entry handbook
Enter the awards

Entry fees

Chapter standard entry fee (ex gst) a+ Membership Fee (10% discount) ex gst
ACT, NSW, NT, Queensland, SA, Tasmania, Victoria, WA $700 $630
International $700 (No GST applied) $630 (No GST applied)

Key dates

chapter Entries open Presentation to Juries Awards Presentations
ACT 18 November 2020 - 19 February 2021 3 - 4 March 2021 Friday 4 June 2021
International 18 November 2020 - 19 February 2021 N/A TBC
NSW 18 November 2020 - 19 February 2021 4 - 10 March 2021 Friday 2 July 2021
Newcastle 18 November 2020 - 8 February 2021 N/A Friday 19 March 2021
NT 18 November 2020 - 19 February 2021 Tuesday 30 March 2021 Friday 25 June 2021
Queensland 18 November 2020 - 5 February 2021 Regional Judging: Feb - March
State Jury Tour: April 		Saturday 26 June 2021
SA 18 November 2020 - 19 February 2021 Saturday 13 March 2021 Saturday 19 June 2021
Tasmania 18 November 2020 - 19 February 2021 Saturday 27 February 2021 Saturday 5 June 2021
Victoria 18 November 2020 - 19 February 2021 26 - 27 March 2021 Friday 18 June 2021
WA 18 November 2020 - 19 February 2021 Saturday 6 March 2021 Friday 11 June 2021
National N/A Jury Tour: July 2021 Thursday 4 November 2021

Awards and prizes documents

Awards and prizes policy

Before submitting an entry into the 2021 Chapter Architecture Awards, please become familiar with the Awards, Prizes and Honours Policy.

View policy

Terms and conditions

Ensure you also read the terms and conditions before submitting an entry.

View terms and conditions

Consent forms

It is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that the following copyright consent forms are completed and signed. Entrants are required to submit these forms to the Institute as part of the online entry system.

View Consent Forms

other documents

For Regional, State and National Jurors please download the 2021 Awards Jury Handbook

For projects wishing to be considered in the Sustainable Architecture category, please complete the Sustainable Architecture Award Checklist

For Regional, State and National Jurors please download the 2021 Awards Jury Handbook

Sustainable and Sustaining Architecture Award Checklist

List of National Architecture Award Winners 1981 – 2019

List of National Award Jurors 2003 – 2019

Watch the 2020 Live winners announcement

Watch the Live winners announcement in a free livestream

From an original entry field of 806 projects, 180 entries progressed through the Chapter Awards for national consideration earlier this year. The National Jury has selected 76 entries for the shortlist that are now vying for the top spots across 14 categories.

Join us as we live stream the 2020 National Architecture Awards for the first time in the award program’s almost 40-year history. Tune in and watch the free live announcements via our YouTube channel anywhere from around Australia and the world on Thursday 5 November, 7pm AEDT.

Register today and receive all the details

2020 People's Choice Award

Hawthorn House | Edition Office | Victoria | Photographer: Ben Hosking
2019 People's Choice Award winner | Hawthorn House | Edition Office | Victoria | Photographer: Ben Hosking

Vote for your favourite house

Residential projects in the 2020 National Architecture Awards shortlist from both the Houses (New) and Houses (Alterations and Additions) categories are eligible for the People’s Choice Award.

This year 13 houses are in the running to become Australia’s favourite house. Vote for your favourite today!

Vote for your favourite house and go in the running to win one of three $500 Bunnings vouchers thanks to our Major National Corporate Partner Dulux.

View the projects

Meet your 2020 jurors

Professor Helen Lochhead LFRAIA (Jury Chair)

Immediate Past National President – Australian Institute of Architects 

Helen Lochhead LFRAIA (Jury Chair)

Helen Lochhead is cross-disciplinary, an architect and urbanist who combines academic and advisory roles with practice. Her career has focused on the planning, design and delivery of complex public projects ranging from a city improvements programs to major urban regeneration and waterfront projects both in Australia and the US.

Her projects have received numerous awards including AIA Architecture and Urban Design Awards and AILA Urban Design and Sustainability Awards. As well her contribution to practice has been recognised through, the AFRs 2019 ‘100 Women of Influence’,  AIA Paula Whitman Prize, Marion Mahony Griffin Prizes, the NAWIC Vision Award for leadership in the construction industry and the AIA NSW President’s Prize.

She has held numerous leadership positions in private practice, government and universities including her current role as Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment at UNSW, Sydney. Her expertise is regularly sought on independent planning and design panels, and competition juries.

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Kerry Clare LFRAIA

Director – Clare Design

Kerry Clare LFRAIA

Kerry Clare, a director of Clare Design since 1979 has produced a diverse range of architectural projects, from major urban and public buildings to small and self-sufficient houses. Kerry and Lindsay Clare received the Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 2010 for their contribution to the advancement of architecture and particularly sustainable architecture.

Clare Design has received over 50 Institute awards for public, educational, commercial, housing, environmental and recycling projects. Exhibitions of the work have been held in New York, Tokyo, Venice, Milan, Barcelona, Santiago, Mexico City and in Australia. Kerry is presently a Visiting Professor at the Abedian School of Architecture, Bond University and a member of the City of Sydney Design Advisory Panel.

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Dr Tim Greer LFRAIA

Director – Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects

Dr Tim Greer FRAIA

Dr Tim Greer is a director of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects and has an interest in existing urban fabric and the cultural elements it embodies. He treats each project as an individual opportunity to create fresh contemporary forms, using current construction techniques. Tim’s work ranges across Masterplanning, Urban Design Architecture and Interior Design. Multi-award winning projects under Greer’s Directorship combine urban renewal with new cultural uses.

Tim is currently an Adjunct Professor of Architecture at Sydney University and holds a Doctorate in Architecture and Design from RMIT in Melbourne. His contribution to architecture was acknowledged by the Sydney Morning Herald‘s ‘Sydney’ magazine in their annual 100 Most Influential People issue, 2010

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Jennie Officer RAIA

Founder and Director – Officer Woods Architects

Jennie Officer RAIA

Jennie is a founding director at Officer Woods Architects and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Design at the University of Western Australia. The diverse built work of Officer Woods has been published and awarded at state and national level across categories including public architecture, single and multiple residential design, small project design, suburban renewal and sustainability.

Jennie is a previous winner of the WA State Emerging Architect Award (2010) and The Gil Nico l Travel Prize (2013) for enhancement of the built environment in Western Australia. She combines a number of roles in professional life: practitioner, teacher, researcher and advocate. She makes regular contributions to architectural dialogue and knowledge by review, presentation and publication, and has served as a jury member at both State and National level for peer- reviewed awards programs. She is a current member of the inaugural WA State Design Review Panel and the City of Fremantle Design Advisory Committee.

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Jefa Greenaway (WAILWAN|KAMILAROI) RAIA

Founder and Director -Greenaway Architects

Jefa Greenaway (WAILWAN|KAMILAROI) RAIA

Jefa Greenaway is founding Director of the award winning practice, Greenaway Architects (est. 1998), a University of Melbourne senior academic of two decades standing, and a regular design commentator on ABC Radio Melbourne. He’s championed Indigenous led design thinking for over 25 years as a registered architect in NSW and VIC, including as co-founder of Indigenous Architecture + Design Victoria (not-for-profit), as co-author of the International Indigenous Design Charter, and as Regional Ambassador (Oceania) of INDIGO (International Indigenous Design Network).

He’s a founding signatory of Architects Declare Australia an initiative foregrounding architecture’s role in to tackling the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, is co-curator (with Tristan Wong) of the Australian exhibition at La Biennale Architettura di Venezia 2020/21 and was recently inducted into the Design Institute of Australia’s 2020 ‘Hall of Fame’ signifying an outstanding body of work, contribution to Australian design and achievement in furthering the profession.

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2020 National Winners

Commercial Architecture

Phoenix Central Park | Durbach Block Jaggers and John Wardle Architects | Photographer: Gavin Green

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture | Phoenix Central Park | Durbach Block Jaggers and John Wardle Architects | Photographer: Martin Mischkulnig

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: The Daryl Jackson Award for Educational Architecture | Ian Potter Southbank Centre, University of Melbourne | John Wardle Architects | VIC | Photographer: Trevor Mein

Educational Architecture

Palm Garden House | Richard Leplastrier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: National Enduring Architecture Award | Palm Garden House | Richard Leplastrier | NSW | Photographer: Peter Salhani

Enduring Architecture

Heritage Architecture

Bozen’s Cottage | Taylor & Hinds Architects | TAS | Traditional Land Owners: palawa and pakana people of lutruwita | Photographer: Adam Gibson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: The Lachlan MacQuarie Award for Heritage – Joint Winner | Bozen’s Cottage | Taylor & Hinds Architects | TAS | Photographer: Adam Gibson

Phoenix Central Park | Durbach Block Jaggers and John Wardle Architects | Photographer: Tom Ferguson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture | Phoenix Central Park | Durbach Block Jaggers and John Wardle Architects | Photographer: Tom Ferguson

Interior Architecture

The Arroyo Affordable Housing | Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc | Photographer: Eric Staudenmaier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: The Arroyo Affordable Housing | Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc | Photographer: Eric Staudenmaier

International Architecture

Public Architecture

Anzac Memorial Centenary Extension | Johnson Pilton Walker with the Government Architect NSW | NSW | Traditional Land Owners: Gadigal and Darug peoples of the Eora Nation | Photographer: Peter Bennetts

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture – Joint Winner | Anzac Memorial Centenary Extension | Johnson Pilton Walker with the Government Architect NSW | NSW | Photographer: Peter Bennetts

Redwood | Chenchow Little | NSW | Traditional Land Owners: Gadigal and Darug peoples of the Eora Nation | Photographer: Peter Bennetts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: The Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture – Hours (Alts + Adds) | Redwood | Chenchow Little | NSW | Photographer: Peter Bennetts

Residential Architecture - Houses (Alts + Adds)

Basin Beach House | Peter Stutchbury Architecture | Photographer: Michael Nicholson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) – Joint Winner | Basin Beach House | Peter Stutchbury Architecture | Photographer: Michael Nicholson

Residential Architecture - Houses (New)

Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing

Studio Apartments | Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects | Built on the land of the Gadigal and Wangal peoples of the Eora nation |Photographer: The Guthrie Project

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing | Studio Apartments | Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects | Photographer: The Guthrie Project

For Our Country | Edition Office and Daniel Boyd | ACT |Traditional Land Owners: Ngambri and Ngunnawal people of the Ngunnawal nation | Photographer: Ben Hosking

Image: The Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture | For Our Country | Edition Office and Daniel Boyd | ACT | Photographer: Ben Hosking

Small Project Architecture

Marrickville Library | BVN | NSW |Traditional Land Owners: Gadigal and Wangal peoples of the Eora Nation | Photographer: Tom Roe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: The David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture | Marrickville Library | BVN | NSW | Photographer: Tom Roe

Sustainable ARchitecture

Urban Design

Metro North West | Hassell, in collaboration with Turpin Crawford Studio and McGregor Westlake Architecture | NSW | Traditional Land Owners: Bidgigal and Caramaragal peoples | Photographer: Brett Boardman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design | Metro North West | Hassell, in collaboration with Turpin Crawford Studio and McGregor Westlake Architecture | NSW | Photographer: Brett Boardman

Carlton Learning Precinct COLA | Law Architects | VIC | Traditional Land Owners: Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation | Photographer: Dianna Snape

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture | Carlton Learning Precinct COLA | Law Architects | VIC | Photographer: Dianna Snape

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture

Outside [the] box | Troppo Architects | SA | Traditional Land Owners: Kaurna people | Photographer: Mitchell Lowe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image: People’s Choice Award | Outside [the] box | Troppo Architects | SA | Photographer: Mitchell Lowe

People's Choice Award

2020 Chapter Winners

ACT Chapter Winners

2020 Canberra Medallion | For Our Country | Edition Office and Daniel Boyd | Photographer: Ben Hosking

See the full list of winners from the 2020 ACT Chapter Architecture Awards

NSW Chapter Winners

2020 Sulman Medal for Public Architecture | Anzac Memorial Centenary Extension | Johnson Pilton Walker with the Government Architect NSW | Photographer: Brett Boardman

See the full list of winners for the 2020 NSW Chapter Architecture Awards

NT Chapter Winners

2020 Tracy Memorial Award Winner | STEAM Building Darwin High School | Hully Liveris Design Company and Jackman Gooden Architects | NT | Student Photographer: LV

See the full list of winners from the 2020 NT Chapter Architecture Awards

Queensland Chapter Winners

2020 Queensland Architecture Medallion | Mon Repos Turtle Centre | KIRK | Photographer: Scott Burrows

Entrant gallery of the 2020 QLD Chapter Architecture Awards

SA Chapter Winners

2020 City of Adelaide Prize | U City | Woods Bagot | Photographer: Peter Barnes

See the full list of winners for the 2020 SA Chapter Architecture Awards

Tasmanian Chapter Winners

2020 Henry Hunter Triennial Prize | Mount Stuart Greenhouse | Bence Mulcahy | Photographer: Adam Gibson

Entrant gallery of the 2020 Tasmanian  Chapter Architecture Awards

Victoria Chapter Winners

2020 Enduring Architecture Award | MCG Great Southern Stand | Daryl Jackson in association with Tompkins Shaw and Evan

See the full list of winners for the 2020 Victorian Chapter Architecture Awards

WA Chapter Winners

2020 Margaret Pitt Morison Award for Heritage Architecture | The Arroyo Affordable Housing | Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc | Photographer: Eric Staudenmaier

See the full list of winners for the 2020 WA Chapter Architecture Awards

International Chapter Winners

2020 International Award for Sustainable Architecture | The Arroyo Affordable Housing | Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc | Photographer: Eric Staudenmaier

See the full list of the 2020 International Chapter Architecture Awards

Field of entries

ACT Chapter Entrant Gallery

2019 Canberra Medallion | Empire | Austin Maynard Architects | Photographer: Derek Swalwell

Entrant gallery of the 2020 ACT Chapter Architecture Awards

NSW Chapter Entrant Gallery

2019 NSW Architecture Medallion, Sulman Medal for Public Architecture, Blacket Prize | Maitland Riverlink | CHROFI with McGregor Coxall | NSW | Photographer: Simon Wood

Entrant gallery of the 2020 NSW Chapter Architecture Awards

NT Chapter Entrant Gallery

2020 Tracy Memorial Award Winner | STEAM Building Darwin High School | Hully Liveris Design Company and Jackman Gooden Architects | NT | Student Photographer: LV

See the full list of winners from the 2020 NT Chapter Architecture Awards

Queensland Chapter Entrant Gallery

2019 Hayes & Scott Award for Small Project Architecture | Kooroomba Chapel | Wilson Architects | Photographer: Alex Chomicz

Entrant gallery of the 2020 QLD Chapter Architecture Awards

SA Chapter Entrant Gallery

2019 Jack McConnell Award for Public Architecture | The University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute | Swanbury Penglase with BVN | SA | Photographer: Chris Oaten

Entrant gallery of the 2020 SA Chapter Architecture Awards

Tasmanian Chapter Entrant Gallery

2019 The Colin Philp Award for Commercial Architecture | Freycinet Lodge Coastal Pavilions | Liminal Architecture | Tasmania | Photographer: Dianna Snape

Entrant gallery of the 2020 Tasmanian  Chapter Architecture Awards

Victorian Chapter Entrant Gallery

2019 Victorian Architecture Medal | Parliament of Victoria Members’ Annexe | Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design | Vic | Photographer: John Gollings

Entrant gallery of the 2020 Victorian Chapter Architecture Awards

WA Entrant Gallery

George Temple Poole Award | Perth Children’s Hospital | JCY Architects and Urban Designers, Cox Architecture and Billard Leece. Partnership with HKS Inc | Photographer: Peter Bennetts

Entrant gallery of the 2020 WA Chapter Architecture Awards

International Chapter Gallery

2019 International Chapter Architecture Awards | Award for Commercial Architecture | Amanyangyun (China) | Kerry Hill Architects | Photographer: Lian Xiao Ou

Entrant gallery of the 2020 International Chapter Architecture Awards

What's on: Awards

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Prizes and Awards News

Guidelines for National Jury Judging – Virtual Site Visit

17 Jul 2020

The Institute acknowledges that the Government restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 are continuing to impact the everyday lives of our members. Due to these restrictions it has been necessary for the Institute to revise the process of National judging for the 2020 National Architecture Awards.

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Contact us

Australian Institute of Architects

P: +61 (3) 8620 3877
E: awards@architecture.com.au

 

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