Fifty-five projects have been recognised with awards and commendations at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2026 NSW Architecture Awards.
Chair of juries Bill Tsakalos said this year’s winning projects demonstrated innovation and creativity, with architects reimagining familiar materials and systems while responding to climate, landscape, culture and context.
Central Station by Woods Bagot in collaboration with John McAslan and Partners received the prestigious NSW Architecture Medallion. The project has delivered a new entrance sequence and a 50-metre-span vaulted roof, as well as reconfigured circulation and pedestrian flows across the busy interchange.
The jury lauded the project for its “remarkable clarity and ambition” as an urban proposition.
“The project masterfully reconciles the competing demands of multiple transport modes, the surrounding urban fabric, and the future commercial imperatives of adjoining precincts,” the jury said.
Tsakalos said this year’s program also highlighted the growing prominence of regional projects, reinforcing “a powerful message” that some of the “most exciting architecture in New South Wales is being delivered outside Sydney.”
The winners are:
NSW Architecture Medallion
Central Station – Woods Bagot in collaboration with John McAslan and Partners
Public Architecture
The Sulman Medal
Central Station – Woods Bagot in collaboration with John McAslan and Partners
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Awards
New Sydney Fish Market – 3XN in association with BVN and Aspect Studios
Pier Pavilion – Besley and Spresser
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport – Cox Architecture, Zaha Hadid Architects and Woods Bagot
Commendations
Mark Taylor Oval Pavilion – Archer Office
Willowdale Sports Pavilion – Sam Crawford Architects with Lymesmith
Educational Architecture
The William E Kemp Award
Green Square Public School and Community Spaces – BVN
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Award
Oakhill College Hilltop Precinct (Commons and Innovation Hub) – BVN
Commendations
Eungai Creek Campus – AJC Architects
Macquarie University – Engineering Innovation Building – Woods Bagot
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
The Wilkinson Award
Cowrie Hole – Curious Practice
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Awards
EA House – Bokey Grant
OK House – Stephen Collier Architect
Queenscliff House – Chenchow Little
Commendations
Coogee House III – Tribe Studio Architects with Genevieve Hromas
Gingkin – Incidental Architecture
Holocene House – Cplusc Architects and Builders
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
The Hugh and Eva Buhrich Award
Darlinghurst House – Anthony Gill Architects
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Awards
House Gretchen – Lintel Studio for Architecture
Lilyfield House – Tribe Studio Architects
Surrey 112 – Smart Design Studio
The Corner Shop House – Downie North
Commendations
Rainbow House – Virginia Kerridge Architect
Rows End – Retallack Thompson
Tree House – ASA (Alexander Symes Architect)
Zulaikha Laurence ‘Tree Change House’ – Studio ZAWA
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
The Aaron Bolot Award
Lacebark – Smart Design Studio
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Awards
Habilis – Collins and Turner
Surry Hills Village – SJB
Waterloo Metro Quarter – Social Housing – Bates Smart
Commendations
Boronia – Turner
Cowper Street Housing – JPW
Goonellabah Houses – Pearson Architecture
Commercial Architecture
The Sir Arthur G Stephenson Award
New Sydney Fish Market – 3XN in association with BVN and Aspect Studios
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Award
The Lands by Capella – Hassell in collaboration with Purcell Architecture
Commendations
15 Khartoum Rd, Mpark – Choi Studio
Baaka Culture Centre – Kaunitz Yeung Architecture
Surry Hills Village – SJB and Studio Prineas
Heritage
The Greenway Award
The Lands by Capella – Hassell in collaboration with Purcell Architecture
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Awards
33 Alfred Street – JPW
Sydney Harbour Bridge Northern Access Cycleway – Collins and Turner with Design 5 Architects, Aspect Studios, Eckersley O’Callaghan
Entertainment Hall White Bay – Dunn Hillam Architecture and Urban Design with Placemaking NSW
Commendation
Old Bega Hospital – Design 5 Architects
Interior Architecture
The John Verge Award
Surrey 112 – Smart Design Studio
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Awards
The Lands by Capella – Hassell in collaboration with Purcell Architecture
Wollemi Capital – Ciliberto Architects
Commendations
CBRE Sydney – Bates Smart
The Corner Shop House – Downie North
Urban Design
The Lloyd Rees Award
Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 – Cox Architecture
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Awards
Surry Hills Village – SJB, Studio Prineas and Aspect Studios
Sydney Harbour Bridge Northern Access Cycleway – Collins and Turner with Aspect Studios, Eckersley O’Callaghan and Design 5 Architects
Small Project Architecture
The Robert Woodward Award
Magenta Outhouse – Atelier Marks Gaal
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Awards
Broken Workshop – Atelier Luke
Permanent Camping Orange – Casey Brown Architecture
Perry Park Pavilion – Scale Architecture
The Southern Lookout – AJC Architects
Commendation
Carpe Diem Pavilion – Collins and Turner
Sustainable Architecture
The Milo Dunphy Award
First Steps Count Child and Community Centre – Austin McFarland with Caroline Pidcock
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Awards
Campbelltown Station Commuter Car Park – Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects
Eungai Creek Campus – AJC Architects
Gilgandra Library and Community Hub – Dunn Hillam Architecture and Urban Design
Gingkin – Incidental Architecture
Commendations
Cowper Street Housing – JPW
Crossroads – Mackenize Pronk Architects and Make Projects
Tree House – ASA (Alexander Symes Architect)
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment – Arch
Greybox – Welsh and Major
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Enduring Architecture
Clubbe Hall – AJC Architects
EmAGN Project Award
Pier Pavilion – Besley and Spresser
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Blacket Prize
EA House – Bokey Grant
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Premier’s Prize
New Sydney Fish Market – 3XN in association with BVN and Aspect Studios
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Lord Mayor’s Prize
Green Square Public School and Community Spaces – BVN
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