Australian Institute of Architects Awards and Prizes


The Australian Institute of Architects coordinates and promotes annual awards, prizes and honours at both a national level and at a State and Territory level. Awards generally recognise buildings and projects, whilst prizes recognise individual and group achievement in advocacy, innovation, social, community, education and environmental fields. Honours recognise individual achievements in all areas of architecture.

National Architecture Awards

The National Architecture Awards are held in late October or early November each year and have been presented annually since 1981. Shortlisted entrants are drawn from relevant State and Territory awards programs held earlier in the year.
National Awards
Discontinued National Awards
  • President's Award for Recycled Buildings
  • Special Jury Award
  • National Education Prize
  • Environment Citation
  • Access Citation

National Prizes

National Prizes have been awarded annually since 2010, usually in early May and often as part of the Australian Architecture Conference. Each prize has a separate jury who assess a shortlist in each category. The inaugural 'Australian Achievement in Architecture Awards' were held on 18 March 2010 at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, presented separately to the National Awards. In 2017 the program was renamed as 'National Prizes'. National Prizes recognise achievement across a range of categories that support and promote advocacy, innovation and education, and do not relate to particular buildings which are judged at the National Awards later in the same year.

AIA Gold Medal

The AIA Gold Medal is the highest individual honour awarded by the Australian Institute of Architects and has been presented annually since 1960. The honour recognises "distinguished service by architects who have designed or executed buildings of high merit, producing work of great distinction that has advanced architecture or endowed the profession in a distinguished manner". Since 1970 the recipient of the Gold Medal has delivered the AS Hook Memorial Address. The address provides the winner a forum to discuss their work, insights and principles and to reflect on the state of the profession at the time.
The most recent recipient is Timothy Hill awarded the Gold Medal in May 2025 at the Australian Architecture Conference.

Paula Whitman Leadership in Gender Equity Prize

This award honours architect, academic and gender equity advocate Paula Whitman. The Leadership in Gender Equity Prize recognises leadership and outstanding contributions of an AIA member towards the advancement of gender equity in practice, education and governance.
  • 2017 Catherine Baudet
  • 2018 Melonie Bayl–Smith
  • 2019 Helen Lochhead
  • 2020 Parlour: Gender, Equity, Architecture
  • 2021 Suzanne Hunt
  • 2022 Fiona Gardiner
  • 2023 Emma Williamson
  • 2024 Monica Edwards
  • 2025 Nicole Kalms

National Emerging Architect Prize

The National Emerging Architect Prize "recognises an individual emerging architect or emerging architectural collaboration’s contribution to practice, education, design and community". Emerging architects are considered up to 15 years after graduation or up to 10 years after registration. Since 2016 the National Emerging Architect Prize has been presented at the end of year National Awards.
  • 2011 Dr Marcus White
  • 2012 Kelly Rattigan
  • 2013 Clare Cousins
  • 2014 Andrew Burns
  • 2015 Nic Brunsdon
  • 2016 Amy Muir
  • 2017 Anthony Balsamo
  • 2018 Christina Cho
  • 2018 Monique Woodward
  • 2019 Rodney Eggleston
  • 2020 Sarah Lebner
  • 2021 Dino Vyrnios
  • 2022 Daniel Moore
  • 2023 Ben Peake
  • 2024 Jennifer McMaster
  • 2025 Dr Kali Marnane

National President's Prize

The National President's Prize recognises unique individual and group contribution to the advancement of architecture in Australia other than through the design of architecture, practice or architectural education. Contributions may be made over a lifetime or could be a response to a single activity or event. The AIA prizes guideline describe that such contributions could include: "support of the architectural profession; effective advocacy; architectural debate and discourse; community engagement, or any other contribution deemed notable".
  • 2011 Janet Holmes à Court — Australian commissioner for the Venice Architecture Biennale
  • 2012 Lucy Turnbull — advocacy for design, architecture, planning and cities
  • 2013 Louise Cox — professional service, policy and advocacy
  • 2014 Ross Langdon, posthumous — humanitarian aid work
  • 2015 Sue Harris and Ian Close — architecture media
  • 2016 Peter Maddison — design and architecture media, professional development and service
  • 2017 Michael Keniger — practitioner, public champion and educator
  • 2018 Rob Adams — urban design, advocacy and public service, City of Melbourne
  • 2019 Tim Ross — design and architecture media, activism and advocacy
  • 2020 Clover Moore — advocacy of high quality architecture, progressive policies and ambitious action on climate change
  • 2021 Andrew Mackenzie — architectural writer, curator, editor, publisher, advisor, architecture competition and procurement specialist
  • 2022 Khai Liew — furniture design and design consultancy
  • 2023 Catherine Townsend, Bruce Townsend, Dominic Pelle and Nathan Judd — Contemporary Australian Architects Speaker Series run in Canberra since 1987
  • 2024 Naomi Milgrom — philanthropy, advocacy and MPavilion program
  • 2025 Government Architects Network of Australia — Scott Balmforth, Abbie Galvin, Jill Garner, Leah Lang, Kirsteen Mackay, Emma Williamson
In 2025 the Award was changed from being awarded to an individual or organisation selected by the President for their outstanding contribution to architecture and the built environment, to a new system of categorised awards in three separate areas: Client of the Year, Consultant of the Year, Builder of the Year.

Neville Quarry Architectural Education Prize

The Neville Quarry Architectural Education Prize recognises achievement in architectural education in architectural teaching, academic scholarship and research, leadership and community engagement in the higher education sector and other forums. The Prize recognises architect, educator and academic Neville Quarry, a long time Professor of Architecture and Faculty Dean at University of Technology, Sydney. Winners receive a prize of $2000, certificate and a medallion.

Leadership in Sustainability Prize

This prize first presented in 2011 recognises individuals, organisations or groups that demonstrate leadership contributing to advances in the environmental sustainability of architecture and the environment.
  • 2011 Healthabitat
  • 2012 Rob Adams and the City Design Division
  • 2013 Daniel Grollo, Grocon
  • 2014 John Macdonald, DesignInc
  • 2015 Professor Allan Rodger
  • 2016 Jeremy McLeod, Breathe Architecture
  • 2019 Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living
  • 2021 Caroline Pidcock and Tone Wheeler
  • 2022 Dr Kenneth Yeang
  • 2023 Dr Iris Se Young Hwang
  • 2024 Abbie Galvin and Paulo Macchia, NSW Government Architect
  • 2025 David Baggs

Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture

A prize for outstanding contribution by an individual architecture student towards the advancement of architecture in areas of leadership, publication, community or education. This prize has a cash amount of $2,000.
  • 2010 Alysia Bennett
  • 2011 Daniel Brookes
  • 2012 Dr Samuel Jeyaseelan
  • 2013 John Byleveld
  • 2014 HY William Chan
  • 2015 Barnaby Hartford-Davis
  • 2016 Peter Nguyen
  • 2017 Timothy Randall
  • 2018 Troy Borg
  • 2019 Bobbie Bayley and Owen Kelly
  • 2019 Julius Egan
  • 2020 Chantelle Fry
  • 2021 Alvin Zhu
  • 2022 Thomas Huntingford
  • 2022 Isabella Reynolds
  • 2023 Blake Hillebrand
  • 2024 Hudson Smith
  • 2025 Nicole Mesquita-Mendes

State and Territory architecture awards and prizes

Each of the State and Territory chapters present annual awards and prizes, as listed:

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

The ACT Architecture Awards are run annually by the ACT Chapter of the AIA.

Awards

Canberra Medallion

Prizes

  • ACT President's Medal
  • Clem Cummings Medal recognises contributions from non-architects and architects to architecture and the public interest
  • EMAGN Project Award
  • Emerging Architect Prize
  • Robert Foster Award for Light in Architecture
  • Pamille Berg Awarf for Art in Architecture
  • ACT Architecture Professional Practitioner Award
  • Country Centred Architectural Narratives Prize
  • Social Impact Prize
  • John Redmond Prize
  • Student Medallion
  • DJAS Architecture Graduate Prize
† No longer awarded

New South Wales

The NSW Architecture Awards are run annually by the NSW Chapter of the AIA.

Awards

NSW Architecture Medallion

Prizes

  • NSW President's Prize
  • Adrian Ashton Prize
  • Premier's Prize
  • Marion Mahony Griffin Prize
  • Emerging Architect Prize
  • Lord Mayor's Prize
  • David Lindner Prize
  • Christopher Procter Prize
  • Best in Practice Prize
  • Reconciliation Prize

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory Architecture Awards are run annually by the Northern Territory Chapter of the AIA.

Awards

Tracy Memorial Award
  • Peter Dermoudy Award for Commercial Architecture
  • Reverend John Flynn Award for Public Architecture
  • George Goyder Award for Urban Design
  • Peter Fletcher Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Burnett Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Ken Frey Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple
  • George Chaloupka Award Award for Interior Architecture
  • JG Knight Award for Heritage Architecture
  • NT Chapter Award for Educational Architecture
  • Thorny Devil Award for Sustainable Architecture
  • Yali—McNamara Award for Small Project Architecture
  • Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
  • Northern Territory Enduring Architecture Award
  • Indigenous Community Architecture Award
  • EmAGN Project Award
  • People's Choice Award

Prizes

  • President's Prize
  • President's Award for Recycled Buildings
  • Student Prize
  • Emerging Architect Prize
Due to the small number of entrants each year, not all categories are awarded in any given year.

Queensland

The Queensland Architecture Awards are run annually by the Queensland Chapter of the AIA.Queensland Medallion

Prizes

  • QIA Medallion
  • Emerging Architect Prize
  • Art and Architecture Prize
  • EmAGN Project Award
  • Queensland People's Choice Award
  • Social Impact Prize
  • People's Choice
  • Robin Dods Triennial Medal†
† ''No longer awarded''

South Australia

The South Australian Architecture Awards are run annually by the South Australia Chapter of the AIA.

Awards

South Australia Architecture Medal
  • Jack Cheesman Award for Enduring Architecture
  • Jack McConnell Award for Public Architecture
  • Gavin Walkley Award for Urban Design
  • Keith Neighbour Award for Commercial Architecture
  • Robert Dickson Award for Interior Architecture
  • Dr John Mayfield Award for Educational Architecture
  • Newell Platten Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing
  • John S Chappell Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • John Schenk Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Derrick Kendrick Award for Sustainable Architecture
  • Marjorie Simpson Award for Small Project Architecture
  • David Saunders Award for Heritage Architecture

Prizes

  • Sir James Irwin Chapter President's Medal
  • City of Adelaide Prize for Design Excellence
  • City of Adelaide Prize People's Choice
  • Emerging Architect Prize
  • EmAGN Project Award
  • South Australia Creative Collaboration Prize

Tasmania

The Tasmania Architecture Awards are run annually by the Tasmania Chapter of the AIA.Tasmanian Architecture Medal
  • Tasmania Award for Enduring Architecture
  • Colin Philip Award for Commercial Architecture
  • Sydney Blythe Award for Educational Architecture
  • Barry McNeill Award for Sustainable Architecture
  • Roy Sharrington Smith Award for Heritage
  • Alexander North Award for Interior Architecture
  • Peter Willmott Award for Small Project Architecture
  • Alan C Walker Award for Public Architecture
  • Esmond Dorney Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Dirk Bolt Award for Urban Design
  • Ray Heffernan Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing
  • Edith Emery Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
  • EmAGN Project Award

Prizes

  • Sydney Wallace Thomas Blythe Student Prize
  • Emerging Architect Prize
  • Barry McNeill Graduate Prize

Victoria

The Victorian Architecture Awards are run annually by the Victoria Chapter of the AIA.

Awards

Victorian Architecture Medal

Prizes

  • President's Prize
  • Bates Smart Award for Architecture in the Media
  • Emerging Architect Prize
  • EmAGN Project Award
  • Victorian Student Ideas Prize
  • Victorian Graduate Prize
  • Robert Caulfield Graduate Research Scholarship
  • Sinclair—Nelson Drawing Scholarship

Western Australia

The West Australian Architecture Awards are run annually by the West Australia Chapter of the AIA.George Temple-Poole Award
  • Jeffrey Howlett Award for Public Architecture
  • John Septimus Roe Award for Urban Design
  • Hillson Beasley Award for Educational Architecture
  • Richard Roach Jewell Award for Enduring Architecture
  • Marshall Clifton Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Peter Overman Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Harold Krantz Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing
  • Ross Chisholm and Gil Nicol Award for Commercial Architecture
  • Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture
  • Heritage Architecture Award
  • Iwan Iwanoff Award for Small Project Architecture
  • Wallace Greenham Award for Sustainable Architecture
  • Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture

Prizes

  • Brian Kidd Enabling Architecture Prize
  • Mondoluce Lighting Award
  • EmAGN Project Award
  • Emerging Architect PrizeBronze Medal/Architecture Medal†
† ''No longer awarded''

Regional architecture awards and prizes

Separately judged awards occur in regional New South Wales and Queensland.

NSW Regional Architecture Awards

The New South Wales Regional Architecture Awards were established in 2025 with the merging of the NSW Country Division Awards and the Newcastle Architecture Awards, and provide a pathway to state and national awards. The awards are assessed by three subregional juries of three members each; North Division, Central Division and South Division. The following award categories are considered for projects located outside Greater Sydney:
  • Commercial Architecture
  • Educational Architecture
  • Heritage
  • Interior Architecture
  • Public Architecture
  • Residential Architecture – Houses
  • Residential Architecture – Houses
  • Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
  • Small Project Architecture
  • Sustainable Architecture
  • Urban Design

Newcastle Architecture Awards

The Newcastle Architecture Awards covered the NSW Central Coast, Hunter Valley and Newcastle areas and occurred each November. They were administered by the AIA NSW Chapter Regional Committee. In 2025 the awards were replaced by New South Wales Regional Architecture Awards.Newcastle Architecture Medal
  • Commercial Architecture Award
  • Interior Architecture Award
  • Award for Residential Architecture, Alterations and Additions
  • Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing
  • Small Project Architecture Award
  • Award for Sustainable Architecture
  • Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture

New South Wales Country Division

The NSW Country Division Awards were held each November and were administered by the AIA NSW Chapter Regional Committee. In 2025 the awards were replaced by New South Wales Regional Architecture Awards.James Barnet Award
  • Regional Division Medal
  • Award for Public Architecture
  • Award for Urban Design
  • Vision Award
  • Timber Award
  • Commercial Architecture Award
  • Award for Residential Architecture, Alterations and Additions
  • Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing
  • Award for Interior Architecture
  • Small Project Architecture Award
  • Award for Sustainable Architecture
  • Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
  • NSW President's Regional Prize

Greater Brisbane Regional Awards

Greater Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards are awarded in April/May of each year.
  • John Dalton Award for Building of the Year
  • Regional Project of the Year
  • Greater Brisbane House of the Year
  • Greater Brisbane People's Choice Award
  • Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing
  • Public Architecture
  • Interior Architecture
  • Educational Architecture
  • Lord Mayor's 'Brisbane Buildings That Breathe' Architecture Prize
Commendations also awarded in Commercial Architecture, Heritage Architecture, Sustainable Architecture, Small Architecture and Urban Design.

Central Queensland

Central Queensland Regional Architecture Awards are awarded in May of each year.
  • JW Wilson Award for Building of the Year
  • Regional Project of the Year
  • House of the Year
  • Award for Public Architecture
  • Residential Architecture, Houses
  • Award for Commercial Architecture
  • Small Project Architecture Award
  • People's Choice Award

Far North Queensland Regional Awards

  • Eddie Oribin Award for Building of the Year
  • Regional Project of the Year
  • People's Choice Award
  • Residential Architecture
  • Educational Architecture
  • Public Architecture

North Queensland Regional Awards

  • Walter and Oliver Tunbridge Award for Building of the Year
  • Regional Project of the Year Award
  • People's Choice Award
  • Residential Architecture
  • Educational Architecture
  • Public Architecture

Darling Downs and West Moreton Regional Awards

  • William Hodgen Award for Building of the Year
  • Regional Project of the Year
  • House of the Year
  • People's Choice Award
  • Public Architecture

Sunshine Coast Regional Awards

  • Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the Year
  • Regional Project of the Year
  • House of the Year
  • People’s Choice Award
  • Regional Commendations

Gold Coast/Northern Rivers Region

  • Philip Follent Building of the Year
  • Regional Project of the Year
  • People's Choice Award
  • Residential Architecture
  • Educational Architecture
  • Public Architecture

International Chapter awards and prizes

Separate International Chapter awards commenced in 2012 with three categories. The Jørn Utzon Award for International Architecture is awarded at the National Architecture Awards.International Chapter Architecture Medallion
  • International Chapter Award for Commercial Architecture
  • Hugh O’Neill Award for Heritage
  • Louise Cox Award for Public Architecture
  • International Chapter Award for Educational Architecture
  • International Chapter Award for Interior Architecture
  • International Chapter Award for Urban Design
  • International Chapter Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing
  • International Chapter Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • International Chapter Award for Residential Architecture, Houses
  • International Chapter Award for Small Project Architecture
  • International Chapter Award for Heritage
  • William J. Mitchell Prize
  • People's Choice Award
  • Emerging Architect Prize

William J Mitchell International Chapter Prize

The William J. Mitchell Prize recognises significant contribution by an Australian to architecture internationally. The prize was established to acknowledge those who have made a significant contribution to the international arena of architecture, and may or may not be an architect. The prize was named for architect Bill Mitchell for his core values of diversity and collaboration. From the awards handbook "recipients of this prize are to have an Australian connection, either by being an Australian or having an Australian education, and has made a significant contribution to the international advancement of architecture through practice, education, discourse, photography, etc". The prize is nominated and judged by International Chapter Council, and has been awarded biennially since 2016.

Other awards and prizes

Since 2001 the Australian Institute of Architects has been a co–convenor of the Australian Urban Design Awards with the Planning Institute of Australia and Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.