2024 NSW Prizes and Honours Awards and End of Year Party.

The prizes and honours end of year celebration recognises an array of architectural work, encompassing culture and literature, excellence in practice, reconciliation, distinctive bodies of work by female architects, emerging perspectives on design in the public realm, and recognition of individuals’ contributions to the profession.

This year’s event was held at the Intercontinental in Sydney last Friday, 22 November.

Chapter President Elizabeth Carpenter says, “it was a fantastic night in celebration of the diversity of our profession across NSW practices and practitioners.

“While our society is going through a deeply complex and challenging time of upheaval, our built environment and its architecture that can offer support, shelter, and safety. Architecture is the very thing that binds together community, making the impact of well designed spaces paramount.

“This year we recognised the outstanding achievements of individuals and practices that set an example of how to move the entire industry forward, improving the quality, innovations, and sustainability of the built environment.

The Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Prizes and Honours Awards were granted to over 40 practitioners and organisations from among an outstanding pool of shortlisted candidates.

Two President’s Prizes were awarded last Friday, the first to Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon, State Library of NSW for her 20 years of leadership experience in public institutions, including Sydney Living Museums (the Historic Houses Trust) and the Art Gallery of NSW.

Ms Carpenter said, “I am honoured to award the President’s Prize to Caroline. Her career has been dedicated to leadership that connects citizens and visitors to special places, culture, and heritage through a broad range of statewide public engagement programs.”

“Through Caroline’s wealth of experience in placemaking and public spaces, she continues to champion the importance of libraries as civic spaces. At the Institute, we look forward to sharing knowledge with Caroline through a common interest on the importance of the public domain and civic spaces,” she said.

Chris Thomas was posthumously awarded the President’s Prize in recognition of his significant contribution to Public Architecture and Public Domain.

National President-elect and Immediate Past NSW Chapter President Adam Haddow said, “Chris was instrumental in helping instil an appreciation for quality design outcomes – championing design excellence across a portfolio of architecture, landscape architecture and public art.  He showed a deep understanding of the importance of delivering exceptional and site responsive projects for the community.”

“His work has had a significant and lasting impact on the quality of Sydney’s public domain and the day to day lives of many,” Mr Haddow finished.

The Reconciliation Prize was awarded to Bangawarra for their contributions to reconciliation in architecture in NSW. Co-founders Dr Shannon Foster and Jo Paterson Kinniburgh celebrate their interactions with architecture through practices that privilege Country. A commendation was also awarded for Naabámi (thou will/shall see): Barangaroo (army of me) by Professor Brenda L Croft, a powerful curation of First Nations female portraits exhibited in public places around the world.

Ms Carpenter commented, “It is crucial that we, as designers, listen to and learn from First Nations perspectives. Such a deep connection to Country and rich cultural heritage can inspire considered and sustainable design solutions for our collective future.”

The David Lindner Prize for graduate and emerging architects encourages new research on architecture in the public realm. Awarded to an emerging architect in honour of the late David Lindner, it recognizes submissions that generate ideas for solving real challenges facing our cities and contributes to the profession as well as the broader community. It was awarded to Aiden Morris for his submission entitled “Could Big-Box Malls Save the High Street? The placemaking potential of shopping centre sites in regional NSW”. 

Annabel Lahz, Lahz Nimmo Architects, won the Marion Mahony Griffin Prize. Recognising the exceptional work of an individual, this award celebrates women’s substantial and critical contribution to the profession.

Penny Craswell won the Adrian Ashton Prize Award for ‘The New Sustainable House’, a considered, important and enjoyable curation of projects showcasing aspects of design and architecture that can make our houses more sustainable. Commendations were received by David Meagher for ‘No Space Like Home’ and Karen McCartney for ‘Architecture: 50 Years of Shaping How We Live’.

Best In Practice was awarded to two practices dedicated to creating an engaging place to work and sharing their methods in the future of sustainable industry, considered design, and beautiful outcomes. Fitzpatrick + Partners was awarded the Medium-Large Practice Award, while Studio Prineas won the Small Practice Award.

Life Fellowship, the highest honour class of Institute membership, was awarded to Fellow members who, in the opinion of the National Council, have rendered notable contributions to the progression of Architecture in design, construction, literature, education, public service, or in any other way deemed worthy of the honour.

Ms Carpenter stated that, “their commitment to excellence, innovation, and collaboration has raised the bar for architectural design and practice.”

View the full event photo gallery here.

2024 Prizes and Honours

President’s Prize (Elizabeth Carpenter, Current NSW Chapter President)

Prize – Caroline Butler-Bowdon | State Library NSW

President’s Prize (Adam Haddow, Immediate Past NSW Chapter President)

Prize – Chris Thomas | Formerly, City of Sydney

David Lindner Prize

Prize – Aiden Morris | CHROFI

Marion Mahony Griffin Prize

Prize – Annabel Lahz | Lahz Nimmo Architects

Reconciliation Prize

Award – Bangawarra

Commendation – Naabámi (thou will/shall see): Barangaroo (army of me)

Adrian Ashton Prize

Award – Penny Craswell | The New Sustainable House

Commendation – David Meagher | No Place Like Home

Commendation – Karen McCartney | Architecture: 50 Years of Shaping How We Live

Best In Practice Prize

Small Practice Award – Studio Prineas

Medium-Large Practice Award – Fitzpatrick + Partners

Honours

Life Fellow

Chirstine Vadasz

Jean Rice

Margaret Pertykowski

Tasman Storey

William Morrison

Honorary Fellow

Prof. Anthony Burke

Prof. Philip Oldfield

Fellow

Andrew Scott | PanovScott

Anita Panov | PanovScott

Ashley Dunn | Dunn Hillam

Carol Marra | Marra + Yeh

Chris Major | Welsh Major

Craig Burns | BVN

David Kaunitz | Kaunitz Yeung

Emili Fox | Architectus

Emily Wombwell | SJB Architects

Felicity Stewart | Stewart Architecture

Hannah Tribe | Tribe Studio

Jennifer McMaster | TRIAS

Jo Bastian | Bastian Architecture

Ka Wai Yeung | Kaunitz Yeung

Ksenia Totoeva | Tonkin Zulaikha Greer

Lee Hillam | Dunn Hillam

Prof. Michael Chapman | Western Sydney University

Ninotschka Titchokosvsky

Phoebe Glanville | Alleanza Architecture

Qianyi Lim | Sibling Architecture

Adam Haddow | SJB Architects

Tiffany Liew | Andrew Burns Architects

Tina Tziallas | Tziallas Architects

Susan O’Neill | Land and Environment Court of NSW