Northern Territory architecture celebrated at ‘virtual’ awards ceremony

The 2020 Northern Territory Architecture Awards were, for the first time, announced via a YouTube live stream. The event was held on Friday 19 June and celebrated the NT’s top architecture projects.

Darwin-based practices Hulley Liveris Design Company and Jack Gooden Architects won two gongs, the program’s top honour – the Tracy Memorial Award and the NT Chapter Award for Educational Architecture – for the new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) Building at Darwin High School.

Design architect Michael (Hully) Liveris explained the project was designed to sit easily into the evolving Darwin High School master plan. “The STEAM Building is an extrapolation of the tartan type master plan of built form, alternating with cool landscaped courts and arteries,” Mr Liveris said.

Darwin High School Principal, Jill Hazeldine said the new STEAM building is transforming the way students learn. “The specialist spaces enable transparency of teaching and learning, and caters for individual, small and large group level learning.

“The specialist areas allow students to carry an idea from conception, design and presentation through to prototype and realisation,” Ms Hazeldine said.

The Indigenous Community Architecture Award was awarded to Alice Springs-based practice, Tangentyere Design, for the Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia Shelter.

Design Architect Stephen Saines incorporated a former resident’s artwork into the perforated metal screens which secures the centre. “A key challenge was to offer both a secure barrier and a welcoming, civic presence on the outside, while creating an internal sense of quietude,” Mr Saines said.

Rounding out the night’s announcements, DMS – Multipurpose Hall by Rossi Architects was awarded the COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture and the People’s Choice Award, while Acacia Hill School by Susan Dugdale and Associates was awarded a commendation for educational architecture.

The Australian Institute of Architects’ Northern Territory Chapter Executive Director, Raquel Nicholls-Skene, praised the agility of Chapter members. “Naturally, our architects are accustomed to adapting to changing environments and they embraced the online celebration with the camaraderie that the Territorians are known for,” Ms Nicholls-Skene said.

The Northern Territory Awards are the third in a month-long series of state and territory architecture awards run by the Australian Institute of Architects. These awards recognise architectural excellence in categories such as public architecture, residential, commercial, education, and sustainability.

All NT Chapter winners were selected by independent juries. All Named Award and Award winners will now progress to the National Architecture Awards.