Sydney Metro Stations, Peter Bennetts.
The very best of NSW architecture was celebrated in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2025 NSW Architecture Awards in a gala celebration at Sydney’s ILUMINA.
On Friday 20th June, the NSW architecture community gathered to celebrate the 2025 state AIA award winners. This year’s recognised 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 wide pool of 284 entries. A comprehensive judging process, including site visits, determined the shortlisted entries and eventual winners.
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This year’s winning projects cohere around a commitment to designing with care: care for Country, for communities, for heritage and for the environment. “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,” says Jury Chair of Chairs, Annabel Lahz LFRAIA.”With 284 entries across 13 categories, judged by 37 jurors through 137 site visits, the scale of the program reflects its significance.”
Sydney Metro was perhaps the most notable winner of the evening, with numerous practices involved in different parts of the design. A warm moment was enjoyed by all as every person in the room who has worked on the project was invited to the stage at the end. Elsewhere, Architect George and Anthony St John Parsons were notable winners of major named awards in residential categories, while Neeson Murcutt Neille and Archer Office were other studio names that came up frequently. The full list of winners is here:
COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
Award – Eco-House Leura | Marra + Yeh Architects | The Dharug and The Gundungurra People
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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
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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 – 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 – 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 – Wentworth Quarter | Bates Smart | The Wangal People of the Dharug Nation
Award – Green Square Site 15 | Smart Design Studio, CO-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 – 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 – Boot Factory and Mill Hill Centre Precinct | Archer Office | The Bidjigal, 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 – 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
NSW Chapter President, Elizabeth Carpenter FRAIA, comments: “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.”
The 2025 jury was made up of the following:
Jury Chair of Chairs
Public Architecture & Urban Design
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations & Additions)
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
Commercial Architecture
Interior Architecture
Heritage
Sustainable Architecture
Educational Architecture & Small Project Architecture
Colorbond® Award for Steel Architecture
Enduring Architecture
EmAGN Project Award
Emerging Architect Prize
Read more about Sydney Metro at Central Station with John McAslan + Partners
