The winners of the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2026 Queensland Architecture Awards have been announced, with projects from urban and regional communities recognised for their ambition, public generosity and response to place.
Jury chair professor Michael Keniger said that the winners comprised a number of adventurous and ambitious commercial and community buildings that have contributed to the revitalisation of Brisbane’s CBD by offering a high degree of public generosity.
One such project was 205 North Quay by Hassell, REX and Richards and Spence, a commercial tower in Brisbane that received the prestigious Queensland Architecture Medallion, the Beatrice Hutton Award for Commercial Architecture, and the Art and Architecture Prize. The jury applauded the design team for opening the ground floor to “light, air and civic occupation.”
“The project activates the street, plaza and laneway, creating a welcoming threshold that encourages movement, pause and exchange. In doing so, it establishes a disciplined benchmark for how commercial development can enrich city life beyond its boundaries,” commented the jury. “We congratulate the architects and their client on the bravura and generosity that have driven the adventurous imagination behind the creation of 205 North Quay.”
Keniger added that, in the residential categories, the jury observed architects challenging conventional ideas of the traditional Queenslander and embarking on ambitious new typologies.
He noted that some of the most adventurous houses were located in regional areas, where they attracted “significant attention” for the quality of their construction.
The winners are:
Queensland Architecture Medallion
205 North Quay – Hassell, REX and Richards and Spence
Public Architecture
The FDG Stanley Award
Palm Beach Aquatic and Community Centre – Liquid Blu and Cox Architecture
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Awards
Cow Bay Primary Health Care Clinic – Clarke and Prince Architects
Quandamooka Arts and Cultural Centre (QUAMPI) – Cox Architecture
Rockhampton Garden and Zoo Visitor Hub – Cox Architecture with Design and Architecture
Commendations
Beaudesert Courthouse – Phillips Smith Conwell Architects
Bundaberg Aquatic Centre – Arch (Suters Arch)
Educational Architecture
The Jennifer Taylor Award
Suncoast Christian College Primary Precinct – M3 Architecture
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Awards
Plant Futures Facility – M3 Architecture
St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace Primary Precinct – Macksey Rush Architects
Commendations
Hymba Yumba Independent School Performance Hall and Arts Building – Deicke Richards
McCormack Building, Mary MacKillop College – Deicke Richards
St Margaret’s Canopy Café – Blight Rayner Architecture
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
The Robin Dods Award
Birdwood – Peter Besley
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Awards
Dolphin Court House – ME
Kallara Cabin – Aphora Architecture
Commendations
Airlie Beach House – Glyde Bautovich Architecture and Urban Design
Emoji House – Reddog Architects
MacDonald House – Greg Clarke Architect
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
The Elina Mottram Award
Woodside Cottage – ME
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Awards
Palm Beach House – Knight Office and Dan Wilson
Stuartholme House – Nielsen Jenkins with Michael Lumby
Commendations
Hakea House – Bligh Graham Architects
Salisbury Seam House – Refresh Studio for Architecture
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
The Jobs and Froud Award
443 Queen Street – WOHA with Architectus and Kris Kowalski Architects
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Awards
Inala Infill Apartments – Baber Studio
Redcliffe Social Housing (Solstice) – Arkhefield
Commendations
Florence – Bureau Proberts
The Curwen – KO and Co Architecture
Commercial Architecture
The Beatrice Hutton Award
205 North Quay – Hassell, REX and Richards and Spence
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Awards
Gindaja Training Facility and Accommodation – People Oriented Design
Little Lane – Twohill and James
Lower Edward Street – J.AR Office
Commendation
Queen’s Wharf Integrated Resort Development – Cottee Parker
Heritage Architecture
The Don Roderick Award
Chapel for St Peters Lutheran College, Indooroopilly – M3 Architecture
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Award
Warwick Police Facilities Upgrade – Phillips Smith Conwell Architects
Interior Architecture
The GHM Addison Award
Golden Avenue – J.AR Office
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Awards
Dolphin Court House – ME
Plant Futures Facility – M3 Architecture
Commendations
Architectus Brisbane Studio – Architectus
Government Headquarters – Cox Architecture
Indooroopilly Studio – Kieron Gait Architects
Landing Bakery – Five Mile Radius and Ma-jr
Sherwood River House – Bligh Graham Architects and Sonda Banney Design
Urban Design
The Karl Langer Award
Brisbane Metro – Arup
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Small Project Architecture
The Hayes and Scott Award
Hinterland Adventure Playground Cooroy – Robinson Architects
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Award
Ipswich City Council Public Amenities – Alcorn Middleton
Commendation
Brewhouse – Atelier Luke
Sustainable Architecture
The Harry Marks Award
Landing Bakery – Five Mile Radius and Ma-jr
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Award
443 Queen Street – WOHA with Architectus and Kris Kowalski Architects
Commendations
Cow Bay Primary Health Care Clinic – Clarke and Prince Architects
Ipswich City Council Public Amenities – Alcorn Middleton
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
Oakleigh State School – KO and Co Architecture
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Commendation
St Margaret’s Canopy Cafe – Blight Rayner Architecture
Enduring Architecture
The Robin Gibson Award
Sunshine Coast University Library – Lawrence Nield and Partners Australia with John Mainwaring and Associates
EmAGN Project Award
Hymba Yumba Independent School Performance Hall and Arts Building – Deicke Richards
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Art and Architecture Prize
205 North Quay – Hassell, REX and Richards and Spence
Social Impact Prize
Cow Bay Primary Health Care Clinic – Clarke and Prince Architects
Gindaja Training Facility and Accommodation – People Oriented Design
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Regional Project of the Year Prize
Hinterland Adventure Playground Cooroy – Robinson Architects
People’s Choice Prize
Gindaja Training Facility and Accommodation – People Oriented Design