National and
Chapter
Architecture
Awards Program
National Architecture Awards
Celebrating design excellence
and its contribution to communities Across australia
and abroad
The Institute is dedicated to the promotion of Australian architects and architecture in both national and global arenas.
Since 1981, we’ve upheld excellence in the profession by recognising best practice in the field through our National Architecture Awards program and inspiring others to continue striving to positively shape communities through architecture.
National Architecture Awards program
See all the entrants in the 2024 National Architecture Awards program.
Key dates relating to the 2025 Chapter Architecture Awards are listed here. Please check with your local Chapter on information relating to Chapter specific requirements.
The Awards Program enables public and peer recognition of the innovative work of our members.
See what’s coming up on the Institutes Awards calendar.
If you are planning to submit an entry into the 2025 Chapter Architecture Awards, we recommend that prior to commencing your entry, you become familiar with the Awards, Prizes and Honours Policy.
See the winners of the 2024 National Architecture Awards
The Awards Program enables public and peer recognition of the innovative work of our members.
For further details, contact your local chapter or the National Awards and Prizes Manager.
About the National Architecture Awards Program
Recognising excellence at regional, chapter and national levels
The Institute’s Awards Program enables public and peer recognition of the innovative work of our members, and provides the Institute with a valuable mechanism to promote architects and architecture across Australia and internationally.
The National Architecture Awards is an integrated, hierarchical program resulting in annual awards at National, Chapter (State and Territory) and, in some states, Regional levels. To enter the National Architecture Awards, Institute members submit projects at the relevant chapter or regional level depending on the project’s location.
Awards in each category are based on a three-tier system, in decreasing order of merit. Only State or Territory Named and Architecture Awards progress to be considered for a National Award.
Entry requirements
Enter the Awards
To enter the Australian Institute of Architects Architecture Awards Program, an entrant must be a registered architect and Institute member. To be eligible to enter, entrants must meet the following three requirements:
1. Member Status
- be an architect registered in the State or Territory of the project or deemed to be registered in the State or Territory under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cmwlth), and
- be an Institute Member at the time of entry, and
- be a principal of the practice who owns, or is a formal licensee, of the copyright in the work being entered.
2. Practical Completion
- The project must have reached practical completion by 31 December in the year proceeding the year of judging. (e.g. To be eligible for the 2024 National Architecture Awards, your project must have reached practical completion by 31 December 2023)
-
Projects must receive a PASS result in at least 2 out of the 6 sections (General, Projection of Land and Ecological Systems, Siting and Urban Design,
Energy Efficiency and Consumption, Selection of Building Materials and Process & Social Issues) on the Sustainable Architecture checklist located at the
beginning of the online entry form*. This does not guarantee consideration in the Sustainable Architecture category, you must opt in to do so via the online entry
form.*Entrants in the Small Project Architecture and Heritage categories are still required to complete the checklist to the best of their ability but are NOT required to meet the minimum 2 out of 6 result and are exempt from this requirement.
It is a requirement of entry that all entrants read and understand the Awards Entry Handbook. The Handbooks are an excellent resource of helping to develop a successful awards entry. Give your project the best possible chance to succeed and familiarise yourself with the Handbook before commencing your entry.
Entries for 2025 opened on Monday 11 November 2024.
Entry fees
| Chapter | Standard entry fee (ex gst) | A+ Membership Fee (10% discount) ex gst |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | $350 | $315 |
| ACT, NSW, NT, Queensland, SA, Tasmania, Victoria, WA | $700 | $630 |
| International | $700 (No GST applied) | $630 (No GST applied) |
Key dates
| Chapter | Entries close | Presentation to Juries | Awards Presentations |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | 17 February 2025 5:00pm AEDT | 13 & 14 March 2025 | Saturday 21 June 2025 |
| International | 11 February 2025 11:59pm AEDT | 24 & 25 February 2025 | TBC |
| NSW | 27 February 2025 5:00pm AEDT | 17 - 21 March 2025 | Friday 20 June 2025 |
| NT | 21 March 2025, 5:00pm ACST | 1 & 2 May 2025 | Saturday 21 June 2025 |
| Queensland | 14 February 2025 11:59pm AEST |
Regional Judging: 3 March - 11 April 2025 Greater Brisbane: 12 - 22 May 2025 State Jury Tour: Concurrent with regional |
Friday 27 June 2025 |
| SA | 10 February 2025 5:00pm ACDT | 15 March 2025 | Saturday 28 June 2025 |
| Tasmania | 11 February 2024 11:59pm AEDT | 1 March 2025 | Saturday 5 July 2025 |
| Victoria | 3 February 2025 11:59pm AEDT | 22 March 2025 | Friday 27 June 2025 |
| WA | 3 February 2025 5:00pm AWST | 22 February 2025 | Friday 13 June 2025 |
| National | N/A |
National Jury Tour Week 1: 21 - 25 July Week 2: 4 - 8 August |
Thursday 6 November 2025 |
Awards and prizes documents
Awards and prizes policy
Before submitting an entry into the Chapter Architecture Awards, please become familiar with the Awards, Prizes and Honours Policy.
Terms and conditions
Ensure you also read the terms and conditions before submitting an entry.
Consent forms
It is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that the following copyright consent forms are completed and signed. Entrants are required to submit these forms to the Institute as part of the online entry system.
Primary Categories
Projects entered in the National Architecture Awards may be new, renovated or altered and extended buildings. On entry, members entering must either select the category most appropriate to their project, or enter in multiple categories.
- Public Architecture
- Educational Architecture
- Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
- Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
- Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
- Commercial Architecture
- Heritage
- Interior Architecture
- Urban Design
- Small Project Architecture
- Enduring Architecture (Members cannot enter this directly).
Juries may choose to consider projects in categories other than the category the project was originally entered in subject to meeting the entry requirements of the new category.
Secondary Categories
Members cannot enter these categories directly, although will have the opportunity to self nominate for the following categories once they have elected a primary category:
- Sustainable Architecture
- COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
- EmAGN Project Award
If you wish to be considered for the above categories, you must provide the necessary entry materials which will be outlined in the awards entry portal.
For all Chapter specific awards and prizes, please contact your local Chapter or refer to the Awards Entry Handbook.
other documents
- For Regional, State and National Jurors please download the 2025 Awards Jury Handbook
- List of National Architecture Award Winners 1981 – 2023
- List of National Award Jurors 2003 – 2023
- Entrants must receive a PASS result in at least 2 out of 6 sections on the Sustainable Architecture checklist in order to enter the Awards. Those who opt in via the online form will be considered further in the Sustainable Architecture category.
This lean-in was recorded for the purposes of the 2023 National Architecture Awards. A supplementary lean-in explaining the new eligibility requirements for 2024 will be uploaded shortly. The questions on the checklist remain unchanged from 2023 to 2025 and therefore the below lean-in is still relevant to the 2025 program.
Prizes and Awards News
TORRENS NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE BY DIRK BOLT WINS THE SIR ROY GROUNDS AWARD FOR ENDURING ARCHITECTURE IN 2024
Dirk Bolt FRAIA Join the ACT Chapter in celebrating the Torrens Neighbourhood Centre by Dirk Bolt, 2024 winner of The Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture. The Enduring Architecture
2024 National Architecture Awards Night Images
Photography by Lewis Whittenbury – Frankie the Creative On Thursday, 7 November we showcased the strengths of Australian design in Adelaide at our 2024 National Architecture Awards night. The Institute
JENNIFER MCMASTER TAKES OUT THE 2024 NATIONAL EMERGING ARCHITECT PRIZE
Jennifer McMaster has been awarded the 2024 Australian Institute of Architects’ National Emerging Architect Prize. McMaster is a founding director of TRIAS and has been recognised for her significant contributions
CALL FOR JURY MEMBERS FOR THE 2025 TASMANIAN ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Wattlebird House | Scott Flett Architecture Workshop | Photographer: Adam Gibson The purpose of the National Architecture Awards is to encourage and acknowledge excellence in architecture through a system of
2024 National Architecture Awards Shortlist Revealed
Featuring 63 outstanding projects from every state and territory, with two international entries, the 2024 National Architecture Awards Shortlist is a platform showcasing the most innovative and outstanding architecture Australia
2024 Dulux Study Tour – Day 10: Heart and mind conflicting
By Mike Sneyd Putting words on paper (or a screen) seems like a very inadequate response to the people we have met, places we have visited and experiences we have
2022 Field of Entries
See the full gallery of the 2022 ACT Chapter Architecture Awards entrants.
See the full gallery of the 2022 International Chapter Architecture Awards entrants.
The full gallery of the 2022 NSW Chapter Architecture Awards entrants is coming soon.
View the full gallery of the 2022 NT Chapter Architecture Awards entrants.
See the full gallery of the 2022 Queensland Chapter Architecture Awards entrants
See the full gallery of the 2022 SA Chapter Architecture Awards entrants.
See the full gallery of the 2022 Tasmanian Chapter Architecture Awards entrants
See the full gallery of the 2022 Victorian Chapter Architecture Awards entrants.
See the full gallery of the 2022 WA Chapter Architecture Awards entrants.
Meet your 2020 jurors
Professor Helen Lochhead LFRAIA (Jury Chair)
Immediate Past National President – Australian Institute of Architects
Kerry Clare LFRAIA
Director – Clare Design
Dr Tim Greer LFRAIA
Director – Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects
Jennie Officer RAIA
Founder and Director – Officer Woods Architects
Jefa Greenaway (WAILWAN|KAMILAROI) RAIA
Founder and Director -Greenaway Architects
2021 Chapter Winners
See the full list of winners from the 2021 ACT Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2021 International Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2021 NSW Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2021 Northern Territory Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2021 Queensland Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2021 SA Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2021 Tasmanian Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2021 Victorian Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2021 WA Architecture Awards
2020 National Winners
Commercial Architecture
Image: The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture | Phoenix Central Park | Durbach Block Jaggers and John Wardle Architects | Photographer: Martin Mischkulnig
Image: The Daryl Jackson Award for Educational Architecture | Ian Potter Southbank Centre, University of Melbourne | John Wardle Architects | VIC | Photographer: Trevor Mein
Educational Architecture
Image: National Enduring Architecture Award | Palm Garden House | Richard Leplastrier | NSW | Photographer: Peter Salhani
Enduring Architecture
Heritage Architecture
Image: The Lachlan MacQuarie Award for Heritage – Joint Winner | Bozen’s Cottage | Taylor & Hinds Architects | TAS | Photographer: Adam Gibson
Image: The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture | Phoenix Central Park | Durbach Block Jaggers and John Wardle Architects | Photographer: Tom Ferguson
Interior Architecture
Image: The Arroyo Affordable Housing | Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc | Photographer: Eric Staudenmaier
International Architecture
Public Architecture
Image: The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture – Joint Winner | Anzac Memorial Centenary Extension | Johnson Pilton Walker with the Government Architect NSW | NSW | Photographer: Peter Bennetts
Image: The Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture – Hours (Alts + Adds) | Redwood | Chenchow Little | NSW | Photographer: Peter Bennetts
Residential Architecture - Houses (Alts + Adds)
Image: The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) – Joint Winner | Basin Beach House | Peter Stutchbury Architecture | Photographer: Michael Nicholson
Residential Architecture - Houses (New)
Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing
Image: The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing | Studio Apartments | Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects | Photographer: The Guthrie Project
Image: The Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture | For Our Country | Edition Office and Daniel Boyd | ACT | Photographer: Ben Hosking
Small Project Architecture
Image: The David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture | Marrickville Library | BVN | NSW | Photographer: Tom Roe
Sustainable ARchitecture
Urban Design
Image: The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design | Metro North West | Hassell, in collaboration with Turpin Crawford Studio and McGregor Westlake Architecture | NSW | Photographer: Brett Boardman
Image: COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture | Carlton Learning Precinct COLA | Law Architects | VIC | Photographer: Dianna Snape
COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
![Outside [the] box | Troppo Architects | SA | Traditional Land Owners: Kaurna people | Photographer: Mitchell Lowe](https://www.architecture.com.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/4754-resaltsadds_Outsidethebox_TroppoArchitects_MitchellLowe_00-2-phk152v52a1git1tp6wz4sfd9tv0glw9jt5f1um5qg.jpg "4754-resaltsadds_Outsidethebox_TroppoArchitects_MitchellLowe_00")
Image: People’s Choice Award | Outside [the] box | Troppo Architects | SA | Photographer: Mitchell Lowe
People's Choice Award
2020 Chapter Winners
See the full list of winners from the 2020 ACT Chapter Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2020 NSW Chapter Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2020 NT Chapter Architecture Awards
Entrant gallery of the 2020 QLD Chapter Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2020 SA Chapter Architecture Awards
Entrant gallery of the 2020 Tasmanian Chapter Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2020 Victorian Chapter Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2020 WA Chapter Architecture Awards
See the full list of the 2020 International Chapter Architecture Awards
Field of entries
Entrant gallery of the 2020 ACT Chapter Architecture Awards
Entrant gallery of the 2020 NSW Chapter Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2020 NT Chapter Architecture Awards
Entrant gallery of the 2020 QLD Chapter Architecture Awards
Entrant gallery of the 2020 SA Chapter Architecture Awards
Entrant gallery of the 2020 Tasmanian Chapter Architecture Awards
Entrant gallery of the 2020 Victorian Chapter Architecture Awards
Entrant gallery of the 2020 WA Chapter Architecture Awards
Entrant gallery of the 2020 International Chapter Architecture Awards
Watch the 2021 Live winners announcement
Watch the Live winners announcement in a free livestream
From an original entry field of 807 projects, 165 entries progressed through the Chapter Awards for national consideration earlier this year. The National Jury has selected 65 entries for the shortlist that are now vying for the top spots across 14 categories.
Join us as we live stream the 2021 National Architecture Awards. Tune in and watch the free live announcements via our YouTube channel anywhere from around Australia and the world on Thursday 4 November, 7pm AEDT.
2023 Chapter Award Winners
See the full list of winners from the 2023 ACT Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2023 NSW Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2023 NT Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2023 Queensland Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2023 Tasmanian Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2023 Victorian Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2023 WA Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2023 SA Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2023 International Chapter Architecture Awards
Contact us
Enquiry
2021 People's Choice Award
![Outside [the] box | Troppo Architects | SA | Traditional Land Owners: Kaurna people | Photographer: Mitchell Lowe](https://www.architecture.com.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/4754-resaltsadds_Outsidethebox_TroppoArchitects_MitchellLowe_04-1-phk151xavg067736uoickanwofzn8wsj7ohxkknjwo.jpg "4754-resaltsadds_Outsidethebox_TroppoArchitects_MitchellLowe_04")
Vote for your favourite house
Residential projects in the 2021 National Architecture Awards shortlist from both the Houses (New) and Houses (Alterations and Additions) categories are eligible for the People’s Choice Award.
This year 10 houses are in the running to become Australia’s favourite house. Vote for your favourite today!
Check out all the eligible projects below, pick your favourite and tell us in 25 words or less why it should win the People’s Choice Award.
The winning project will be announced during the 2021 National Architecture Awards on Thursday 4 November, which is being held as a free virtual event.
2021 Field of Entries
See the full gallery of the 2021 ACT Chapter Architecture Awards entrants
See the full gallery of the 2021 International Chapter Architecture Awards entrants
NSW Chapter Entrant Gallery
The full gallery of the 2021 NSW Chapter Architecture Awards entrants is coming soon.
View the full gallery of the 2021 NT Chapter Architecture Awards entrants.
See the full gallery of the 2021 Queensland Chapter Architecture Awards entrants
See the full gallery of the 2021 SA Chapter Architecture Awards entrants
See the full gallery of the 2021 Tasmanian Chapter Architecture Awards entrants
See the full gallery of the 2021 Victorian Chapter Architecture Awards entrants
See the full gallery of the 2021 WA Chapter Architecture Awards entrants
2022 Chapter Award Winners
See the full list of winners from the 2022 ACT Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2022 International Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2022 NSW Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2022 Northern Territory Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2022 SA Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2022 Queensland Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners from the 2022 Tasmanian Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2022 Victorian Architecture Awards
See the full list of winners for the 2022 WA Architecture Awards
