2025 NSW Architecture Award Winners

The very best in NSW architecture have been named in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2025 NSW Architecture Awards. Revealed in a gala celebration at Sydney’s ILUMINA on Friday 20 June, the award winners offer a vivid snapshot of the ever-changing built environment across the state.

This year’s awarded projects speak to a profession stepping up to meet some of the biggest challenges facing our communities – climate resilience, housing equity, cultural recognition, and urban transformation – through work that is both imaginative and deeply grounded.

The 72 winners and commendations (listed below) were selected from a remarkable 284 entries. A comprehensive judging process determined the shortlisted entries and eventual winners. Chosen by a jury of industry experts from a shortlist of 137 projects, this year’s winners display a breadth of architectural thinking that reveals not just how we live today, but what our built environment could be tomorrow.

This year’s winning projects are united by a number of defining themes. Chief among them is a commitment to designing with care: care for Country; for communities; for heritage; and the environment. Examples of innovative adaptive reuse strategies prove that great design does not need to begin from scratch. New housing models explore how higher-density living can enhance, not diminish, quality of life.

Sustainability considered from the very start of the design process places future resilience front and centre, not as a bonus but as a baseline. Another theme that emerged for the juries was the value of collaboration across disciplines and practices, with several awarded projects the result of partnerships that yielded richer, more complex outcomes.

Jury Chair of Chairs, Annabel Lahz LFRAIA, reflected on the breadth of this year’s awards program: “The NSW Chapter’s Architecture Awards program recognises more than design excellence—it promotes public awareness, encourages best practice, and sets benchmarks for quality, sustainability, and social impact. With 284 entries across 13 categories, judged by 37 jurors through 137 site visits, the scale of the program reflects its significance,” said Lahz. “Architecture today extends beyond buildings, encompassing diverse contexts and addressing complex social, environmental, and cultural challenges. This year’s awarded projects highlight the breadth of the profession and its positive impact on everyday life—from small-scale additions to major infrastructure, these works enrich the spaces we live, learn, work, and move through.”

NSW Chapter President, Elizabeth Carpenter FRAIA, stated that: “This year’s NSW Architecture Awards highlight a profession not only responding to urgent challenges, but leading with integrity, innovation and care. The awarded projects are powerful reminders that architecture is both an art and a responsibility—one that connects communities, strengthens cultural understanding, and shapes more sustainable and inclusive futures. Congratulations to every entrant, finalist and winner—you are part of a collective effort to build something better,” said Carpenter.

Each year, the NSW Architecture Awards juries includes a venerated panel of industry experts. Their commitment has helped ensure that the awarded projects truly represent the breadth and depth of architectural excellence in NSW.

2025 Winners
COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
Award – Eco-House Leura | Marra + Yeh Architects | The Dharug and The Gundungurra People

Commercial Architecture
The Sir Arthur G Stephenson Award for Commercial Architecture – 39 Martin Place | Tzannes | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – 1 Elizabeth | JPW | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – 50 Belmore Street | Bates Smart | The Dharug and the Gundungurra People
Award – Bourke & Bowden | Wardle | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Rochester Street Office | Allied_Office, Akin Atelier, Second Edition, and Dangar Barin Smith | The Bidjigal, Birrabiragal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – 25 Martin Place Retail Redevelopment | Woods Bagot and Harry Seidler & Associates | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – Bundarra | Smart Design Studio | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – First Building – Bradfield City Centre | Hassell | The People of the Dharug Nation

Educational Architecture
The William E Kemp Award for Educational Architecture – St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Rosebery | Neeson Murcutt Neille | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Michael Kirby Building | Hassell | The Wallumattagal Clan of the Dharug Nation
Commendation – Bankstown City Campus by Walker Corporation for Western Sydney University | Lyons + HDR | The People of the Dharug Nation
Commendation – Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College, Scientia Terrace | Hayball | The Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Enduring Architecture
Award for Enduring Architecture – Moore Park Gardens | AJC Architects | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Heritage
The Greenway Award for Heritage – White Bay Power Station | Design 5 – Architects with Placemaking NSW | The Wangal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Conservation – Parliament of NSW Restoration | Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Purcell Architecture | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Creative Adaptation – Former Workmen’s Dwellings Lower Fort Street | Neeson Murcutt Neille | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Creative Adaptation – Nioka House | A Studio Architects and Gordon Valich Architects | The Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Creative Adaptation – Reddam House North Shore | AJC Architects | The Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Interior Architecture
The John Verge Award for Interior Architecture – Babylon House | Casey Brown Architecture | The Ku-ring-gai People
Award – Boot Factory and Mill Hill Centre Precinct | Archer Office | The Bidjigal, Birrabirragal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Moxy Sydney Airport | GROUPGSA | The Gameygal People
Award – New Castle | Anthony St John Parsons | The Awabakal People
Commendation – City Recital Hall Renewal | Archer Office in association with City of Sydney | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – Prefecture 48 | Bates Smart | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – Rosherville House | Kennedy Nolan | The Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Public Architecture
The Sulman Medal for Public Architecture – Yarrila Place | BVN | The Gumbaynggirr People
Award – Allan Border Oval Pavilion | Archer Office | The Borogegal and Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Pyrmont Community Centre | Welsh + Major in association with the City of Sydney | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – Artspace | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – Cobar Ward Oval Pavilion | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan People
Commendation – Murrook | Derive Architecture & Design with Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council | The Worimi People

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
The Hugh and Eva Buhrich Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) – House in Erskineville | Architect George | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Babylon House | Casey Brown Architecture | The Ku-ring-gai People
Award – Back to Front House | Ian Moore Architects | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Cloaked House | TRIAS | The Borogegal and Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – Bondi Breeze | PANOV—SCOTT | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – Cake House | Alexander Symes Architect | The People of the Yuin Nation
Commendation – House in Narrawallee | Architect George | The Budawang People of the Yuin nation
Commendation – Rainbow House | Virginia Kerridge Architect | The Bidjigal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
The Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) – New Castle | Anthony St John Parsons | The Awabakal People
Award – Lagoon House | Peter Stutchbury Architecture | The Garigal People
Award – Lighthouse | BVN | The Arakwal, Minjungbal and Widjabul People of the Bundjalung Nation
Award – Morning Bay House | Casey Brown Architecture | The Ku-ring-gai People
Commendation – Amongst the Eucalypts | JGDW – Jason Gibney Design Workshop | The Worimi People
Commendation – Eco-House Leura | Marra + Yeh Architects | The Dharug and the Gundungurra People
Commendation – Little Young Street 4A & 4B | David Langston-Jones | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
The Aaron Bolot Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing – Wentworth Quarter | Bates Smart | The Wangal People of the Dharug Nation
Award – Green Square Site 15 | Smart Design StudioCO-AP and Mirvac Design | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Indi Sydney | Bates Smart | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – One Sydney Harbour | RPBW Architects, Guernier Architecture and PTW Architects | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Sirius Redevelopment | BVN | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – Nautilus | Smart Design Studio | The Wodi Wodi People
Commendation – Pointe | Luigi Rosselli Architects | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – The Regent | Candalepas Associates | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – Waverton Townhouses | ess | The Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Small Project Architecture
The Robert Woodward Award for Small Project Architecture – Love Shack | Second Edition | The Bidjigal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Callan Park Waterfront Green Amenities | Stanic Harding Architects | The Wangal People of the Eora nation
Commendation – Bath Haus | Burrow Architecture | The People of the Yuin Nation

Sustainable Architecture
The Milo Dunphy Award for Sustainable Architecture – Boot Factory and Mill Hill Centre Precinct | Archer Office | The Bidiagal, Birrabirragal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Cloaked House | TRIAS | The Borogegal and Cammeraygal people of the Eora nation
Award – First Building – Bradfield City Centre | Hassell | The People of the Dharug Nation
Commendation – Cobar Early Learning Centre | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | The Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan People
Commendation – Habilis | Collins and Turner | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – Indi Sydney | Bates Smart | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Commendation – Love Shack | Second Edition | The Bidjigal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Urban Design
The Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design – Sydney Metro City Stations | Sydney Metro | The Cammeraygal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Award – Rosebery St. Joseph’s Precinct | Neeson Murcutt Neille | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Chapter Specific Prizes
EmAGN Project Award – Green Heart – the urban garden – | Studio Oulala Architects | The Gayamaygal People
Emerging Architect Prize – Gabrielle Pelletier
The Blacket Prize for Regional Architecture – Cobar Ward Oval Pavilion | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | The Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan People
Lord Mayor’s Prize – Rosebery Engine Yards | GroupGSA | The Bidjigal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Premier’s Prize – First Building – Bradfield City Centre | Hassell | The People of the Dharug Nation
NSW Architecture Medallion – Sydney Metro City Stations | Sydney Metro | The Cammeraygal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation