Queensland’s most celebrated architectural projects of the year have been announced, with Kangaroo Point Bridge taking centre stage at the 2025 Australian Institute of Architects Queensland Awards. The Kangaroo Point Bridge has swept the stage at the recently announced AIA Queensland Awards, taking home three accolades. The project was awarded the highest architectural honour with the Queensland Architecture Medallion. It was also the recipient of the Karl Langer Award for Urban Design and an award for Sustainable Architecture. Blight Rayner Architecture, in collaboration with Dissing + Weitling Concept, were responsible for the architecture and design of the project. Brisbane City Council, with Arup and COX Architecture, completed the project’s reference design. Spanning 460 metres across the Brisbane River, the bridge links Kangaroo Point to the Brisbane CBD. It provides dedicated pedestrian and cycle paths that promote active transport and reduce reliance on vehicles. The jury praised Kangaroo Point Bridge for showing how investment in key public infrastructure can enhance mobility and liveability in rapidly growing cities.

Elsewhere, Matso’s Sunshine Coast Brewery won the Commercial Architecture Award, the EmAGN Project Award and a commendation for Sustainable Architecture. Designed by Five Mile Radius and Knight Wilson Architects, the project transformed the heritage-listed Joe’s Waterhole in Eumundi into a brewery, restaurant and beer garden. The jury praised the project as a “respectful execution of a substantial renovation to a heritage building on the high street of a small character town…” The project creates “a space that now attracts an all-ages clientele, resulting in a deservedly popular destination”.

The St Marcellin Centre was the winner of this year’s Queensland People’s Choice Prize and an award for Educational Architecture. Designed by Phorm architecture + design, the jury hailed the project at Marist College Primary School in the Brisbane suburb of Ashgrove as “a benchmark for high standards of contemporary architecture.”

The Caboolture Hospital Clinical Services Building was awarded the FDG Stanley Award for Public Architecture. The project also received this year’s Social Impact Prize and a commendation for Interior Architecture. Designed by Jacobs, the clinical services building is the centrepiece of the new Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment.

The James Cook University Engineering & Innovation Place won the Jennifer Taylor Award for Educational Architecture, the GHM Addison Award for Interior Architecture and the Harry Marks Award for Sustainable Architecture. Designed by KIRK with i4 Architecture and Charles Wright Architects, judges hailed the building in Douglas as a benchmark project for future education design in the tropical regions. The jury noted that the multi-story educational facility’s design was “driven by a response to site and climate” resulting in “spectacular spaces.”

The Cathedral School Sports Precinct in Mundingburra, Townsville, was awarded the Regional Project of the Year Prize and received an Award for Educational Architecture. Designed by local architect Stephen de Jersey Architect, judges commended the Sports Precinct as an “unabashedly monumental structure for the school campus.” The judges also described the precinct as an exemplary “climatically responsive gathering space.”

Queensland’s best architecturally designed homes were also unveiled at the awards. Mapleton House, designed by Atelier Chen Hung received the Robin Dods Award for Residential Architecture in the Houses (NEW) category.

Designed by John Ellway, Niwa House earned the Elina Mottram Award for Residential Architecture in the Houses (Alterations and Additions) category. Four Dwellings on 800m2, designed by Clare Design, won the Jobs & Froud Award for Residential Architecture in the Multiple Housing category.

Dr Kali Marnane, Associate Director at Urbis, was awarded the Queensland Emerging Architect Prize. The jury recognised Kali for her research and community involvement, which is marked by generosity, selflessness, and advocacy for underrepresented community members. Her academic and industry contributions have helped educate and inspire the next generation of architects.