The Institute’s ACT Chapter works towards making a positive contribution to the Territory’s built environment. We provide support for our members through various programs including CPD activities, design competitions, advocacy campaigns and awards.
We promote innovative, sustainable and increased housing diversity in the Territory, as well as equitable employment practices in our local workforce.
The ACT Chapter recognises the Ngunnawal people as the traditional land owners of Canberra. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
See the people and projects that were awarded this year in the 2024 Architecture Awards.
The Institute is committed to developing and promoting a strong architectural profession and advocating for safer, more sustainable communities. Learn about local and national advocacy initiatives.
Our Chapter and National Awards programs are an opportunity for public and peer recognition of the valuable contribution architecture makes to our communities locally, nationally and internationally.
Continuing Professional Development is an important avenue to improve professional knowledge and competence.
View our range of online and face-to-face CPD opportunities.
Meet our Chapter Councillors and discover the local committees helping shape our work and the built environment.
Our Chapter hosts a range of local events celebrating architecture and catering to the profession and the broader community. Discover upcoming events now.
Architects from the Federal Capital Commission designed much of Canberra’s houses and public buildings in the city’s early years. As a result many of the older suburbs exhibit this largely cohesive ‘FCC style’ that is unique to Canberra.
Our Chapter hosts a range of local events celebrating architecture and catering to the profession and the broader community. Discover upcoming events now.
Looking for a room to hire or the latest architectural jobs in the ACT? Check out our notice board for the latest information.
Looking for a room to hire or the latest architectural jobs in the ACT? Check out our notice board for the latest information.
The ACT Chapter holds a series of talks and events for members as a part of its continuing professional development (CPD) program. Our speakers include local and visiting national and international architects, as well as specialist consultants from other built environment disciplines.
The Chapter also holds Practice of Architecture Learning Series tutorials to help participants prepare for the Architectural Practice Examination.
As we reflect on 2024, it’s evident that this has been a dynamic and rewarding year for the architectural community. The first half of the year featured several key events
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of three brand-new prizes for the 2025 ACT Architecture Awards. This is your opportunity to showcase your work in the inaugural year of these prestigious accolades.
Would you like to be part of the exciting and important work of the ACT Heritage Council? As a member of the Council, you will influence the reform of heritage
I have lived on Ngunnawal Country for most of my life and what I love most is its richness of landscape. I am passionate about connecting to people and places, fairness, kindness, having a voice, enabling equity and celebrating diversity. These passions are embedded in both my personal and professional life – it is more than jargon.
In the past few years, I have been working on becoming an ally for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, through self-reflection, education and listening. I am committed to finding opportunities in my work and projects which can assist for an equitable and reconciled country for all.
Having recently taken some time out, one of the things I have been reflecting on is wellbeing – what does it mean to me. We are all mindful now on the importance of wellbeing of ourselves, our family, our friends, and our colleagues. I believe there is more to do in this space, not just for myself, but for others. It needs to be not just a policy, but an action.
2021 – 2023 | Jane Cassidy
2020 – 2021 | Shannon Battisson
2018 – 2020 | Philip Leeson
2016 – 2018 | Rob Henry
2014 – 2016 | Andrew Wilson
2012 – 2014 | Tony Trobe
2010 – 2012 | Sheila Hughes
2008 – 2010 | David Flannery
2006 – 2008 | Melinda Dodson
2002 – 2006 | Catherine Townsend
2000 – 2002 | Colin Stewart
1998 – 2000 | Dominic Maiuto
1994 – 1998 | Graham Humphries
1993 – 1994 | Annabelle Pegrum
1992 – 1993 | Peter Freeman
1990 – 1992 | Colin Stewart
1988 – 1990 | Alastair Swayn
1986 – 1988 | Eric Graham Butt
1984 – 1986| Barry Malcolm Cameron
1982 – 1984| Geoffrey Thomas Butterworth
1980 – 1982 | Ian Thompson
1978 – 1980 | Mervyn Bryce Willoughby-Thomas
1976 – 1978 | Anthony Kimbal Cooper
1975 – 1976 | Neil Renfree
1974 – 1975 | Arthur Chrisus Tow
1972 – 1974 | William Frank Batt
1970 – 1972 | Horace Holt
1968 – 1970 | John Goldsmith
1966 – 1968 | Peter Firman Harrison
1964 – 1966 | Edward John Scollay
1962 – 1964 | Malcolm Johnson Moir
Right from the initial approach, Brindabella impresses with a visual pedestrian axis cleverly dissecting the large site creating a human scale forecourt. This provides a focal point to the complex, framed by two beautifully crafted buildings, while the thin cylindrical columns supporting the high-level canopy define the precinct. The ground floor retail tenancies with their lightweight pedestrian scale awnings and soft landscaping create a sense of welcoming while activating the ground plane.
The extremely well executed relationship of façade elements is seamless between materials from the concrete base to the elegantly resolved curtain wall glazing and aerofoil fins above. Upon entry, the buildings open into richly detailed central glazed atriums inviting the visitor to engage with and occupy the voids. Functionally, the integration of allied engineering disciplines is highly complex and seamlessly well executed to create flexible, open floor plans that engage with the central atriums.
All encompassing in scale from the macro to the micro, the design rigour demonstrated in managing the various scales from the urban context through the finite detail is clearly evident in execution. Brindabella is a finely crafted, incredibly elegant pair of commercial buildings that demonstrates extreme beauty in complex simplicity and is a deserved winner of the 2023 Canberra Medallion.
2023 Brindabella | Bates Smart
2022 ANU Birch Building Refurbishment | Hassell
2021 House for Hiroko | Anthony Knobel Architect
2020 For Our Country, Australian War Memorial Edition Office and Daniel Boyd
2019 Empire House Austin Maynard Architects
2018 Australian Federal Police Forensics and Data Centre, Majura Hassell
2017 Constitution Avenue NCA, JILA, Hill Thalis, SMEC and AECOM
2016 Bowen Place Crossing Lahznimmo Architects
2015 New Acton Precinct Fender Katsalidis
2014 National Arboretum Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Taylor Cullity Lethlean
2013 2 & 4 National Circuit Fender Katsalidis
2012 St Gregory’s Hall (2011) Collins Caddaye
2011 AWM Eastern Precinct (2010) Johnson Pilton Walker
2010 H House, O’Connor (2009) Nino Bellantonio, AIL Studio & Joanna Nelson
2009 National Portrait Gallery, Parkes (2009) Johnson Pilton Walker
2008 New Acton East, Acton (2008) Fender Katsalidis
2007 AIS Aquatic Testing and Training Centre, Bruce (2007) Cox Humphries Moss
2007 ANU Medical School, Canberra Hospital, Garran (2007) Bligh Voller Nield
2006 Reid House, 19 Euree Street, Reid (2006) Roger Pegrum
2005 ANZAC Hall, Australian War Memorial, Campbell (2005) Denton Corker Marshall
2004 No Canberra Medallion awarded.
2003 No Canberra Medallion awarded.
2002 Clynes House Cox Humphries Moss
2002 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Benjamin Way, Belconnen (2001)
2001 Australian War Memorial Gallery Redevelopment, Campbell (2001) Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp
2000 CSIRO ‘Discovery’, Clunies Ross Street, Acton (2000) Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn
1999 Blake Dawson Waldron Fit-out, 12 Moore Street, Canberra City (1999) Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp
1999 Fowler House, 288 Duffy Street, Ainslie (1999) Townsend & Associates
1999 Capital Jet Facility, Boomerang Street, Canberra Airport, Pialligo (1999) Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn
1998 Australian Geographical Survey Organisation HQ, Symonston (1997) Eggleston Macdonald
1998 Morrison Alterations & Additions, 52 Beauchamp Street, Deakin (1997) Graeme Trickett
1998 Hyson Green, Calvary Hospital, Mary Potter Circuit, Bruce (1998) Munns Sly Scott-Bohanna Moss
1997 ACT Magistrates Court, London Circuit, Canberra City (1997) MCC Architects
1997 AIS Ansett Sports Visitor Centre, Leverriar Crescent, Bruce (1997) Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn
1996 House at Fadden Hills, 10 Decker Place, Fadden (1996) Shane Blue & Rachel Bourne
1996 My Cafe, Franklin Street, Manuka (1996) Freeman Collett & Partners
1996 ACT Legislative Assembly, Civic Square, Canberra City (1996) Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp
1994 Ainslie Village Redevelopment, Quick Street, Ainslie (1994) Collard, Clarke & Jackson
1994 Therapeutic Goods Admin Building, Narrabundah Lane, Symonston (1994) Australian Construction Services
1994 Ainslie Fire Station, Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie (1994) Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp
1993 Boiler House Lecture Theatre, UC, Bruce (1993) Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn
1992 Faculty of Information Sciences & Engineering Building, UC, Bruce (1992) Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp
1991 Water Feature in Parliament House Forecourt (1988) Robert Woodward
1991 AIS Athletics Field Grandstand, Masterman Street, Bruce (1991) Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn
1990 St Thomas Aquinas Parish Church, Lhotsky Street, Charnwood (1990) Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp
1989 National Science & Technology Centre, King Edward Terrace, Parkes (1988) Lawrence Nield & Partners
1989 Parliament House (Special Award) (1988)
1988 Psychiatric Hostel, Mary Potter Circuit, Bruce (1988) Ken Maher & Partners
1987 Indoor Sports Centre, ADFA, Fairbairn Ave, Campbell (1987) Daryl Jackson
1986 Caroline Chisholm High School, Hambidge Cres, Chisholm (1985) Lawrence Nield & Partners
1986 Cadets Mess, ADFA, Fairbairn Ave, Campbell (1986) DH&C (ACT) & Ancher Mortlock & Woolley
1985 Waterman Arts Centre, Canberra Girls’ Grammar School, Deakin (1985) Collard, Clarke & Jackson
1985 Singapore High Commission Chancery, Forster Crescent, Yarralumla (1985) Daryl Jackson
1984 AIS Swimming Pools, Leverrier Crescent, Bruce (1982) Daryl Jackson
1984 Hill Station Addition, Shepherd Street, Hume (1984) Peter Freeman
1983 Australian National Gallery, Parkes (1982) Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo & Briggs
1982 Belconnen Public Library, Chandler Street, Belconnen (1982) Robin Gibson
1981 Canberra School of Art, Acton (1980) Daryl Jackson Evan Walker
1980 High Court of Australia, Parkes (1980) Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo & Briggs
1979 Taylor Primary School, Marconi Crescent, Kambah (1977) Michael Adams of the Department of Housing & Construction
1978 Kambah Health Centre, Jenke Circuit, Kambah (1975) Philip Cox & Partners
1977 Giralang Primary School, Atalumba Close, Giralang (1975) Enrico Taglietti
1972 Grandstand Amenities Pavilion, Randwick Road, Mitchell Hancock, Renfree & Associates
1971 Building No. 14, Russell Defence Group, Russell (1970) Collard, Clark & Jackson
1970 Food Services Building, Bowes Street, Phillip (1969) Ian Mackay & Partners
1968 Norwood Park Crematorium, Sandford Street, Mitchell (1968) Peter Sorel of Rosman, Hastings & Sorel
1967 Commonwealth Club, Forster Crescent, Yarralumla (1966) Fowell, Mansfield, Jarvis & Maclurcan
1965 Cater House, 145 Mugga Way, Red Hill (1965) Allen, Jack + Cottier
1964 Downer Primary School, Bradfield Street, Downer (1961) Mockridge, Stahle & Mitchell
1962 Mackie House National Circuit, Forrest (1959) McConnell, Smith & Johnson
1961 Australian Academy of Science, Gordon Street, Acton (1958) Roy Grounds of Grounds, Romberg & Boyd
1956 Fenner House, 8 Monaro Crescent and 1 Torres Street, Red Hill (1953) Robin Boyd
Looking for a new career opportunity in the Australian Capital Territory? View architectural and built environment job openings by logging in and viewing our job board on the Institute’s Community page.
Want to advertise a job? Free job listings are an exclusive benefit for Institute members. Members can now post and manage their own job ads themselves through communities. When a member logs into Community, there is a tile that will take them straight to the jobs board.
ACT Chapter
Australian Institute of Architects
PO Box 3373
Manuka, ACT 2603
2a Mugga Way
Red Hill, ACT 2603
P: +61 2 6208 2100
E: act@architecture.com.au
Our office can be tricky to find.
We are on the corner of Mugga Way,
Melbourne Ave and Tennyson Cres.
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
