The Australian Institute of Architects ’ National Architecture Awards are Australia’s most prestigious annual architecture prizes. 

Presented to the nation’s most inspiring recent architectural projects and architects, the awards were held at a special ceremony on Thursday 29 October in Melbourne. A total of 32 awards and commendations were presented across 12 categories to projects in the ACT, NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.  

A record 893 projects competed for Australian Institute of Architects state and territory Architecture Awards, with 144 projects rewarded. Of these projects and practices, 32 have been awarded 2009 National Architecture Awards or Commendations. 

This year’s Architecture Award winners are:

Public Architecture
The Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, ACT - Johnson Pilton Walker
National Award for Public Architecture: All Saints Primary School, Belmore, NSW - Candalepas Associates
National Award for Public Architecture: Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy, Monash Uni, VIC – Architectus Melbourne
National Commendation for Public Architecture: Faculty of Law, Library and Teaching Complex, University of Sydney, NSW - Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt)

Residential Architecture - Houses
The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses: Freshwater House, Harbord, NSW - Chenchow Little Architects
National Architecture Award for Residential Architecture – Houses: Zac’s House, Sorrento, Victoria - Neeson Murcutt Architects
National Architecture Award for Residential Architecture – Houses: Whale Beach House, Whale Beach, NSW - Neeson Murcutt Architects
National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses: Arm End House, Opossum Bay, Tasmania - Stuart Tanner Architects

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing: Balencea Apartments, St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria - Wood Marsh Architecture in association with Sunland Design
National Architecture Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing: Pindari, Kensington, NSW - Candalepas Associates
National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing: Apartments in Cottesloe, Cottesloe, Western Australia - Blane Brackenridge

Commercial Architecture
The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture: ivy, George Street, Sydney, NSW - Woods Bagot, in collaboration with Merivale Group and Hecker Phelan & Guthrie
National Award for Commercial Architecture: Headquarter Sussan Sportsgirl, Cremorne, Victoria - Durbach Block Architects
National Award for Commercial Architecture: Bendigo Bank Headquarters, Bendigo, Victoria - BVN Architecture + Gray Puksand
National Commendation for Commercial Architecture: HASSELL Warry Street Studio, Fortitude Valley, Queensland - HASSELL

International Architecture
The Jorn Utzøn Award for International Architecture: TKTS Booth/Redevelopment of Duffy Square, New York - Choi Ropiha, Perkins Eastman, PKSB
Award for International Architecture: Qatar Science and Technology Park, Qatar, United Arab Emirates - Woods Bagot

Sustainable Architecture
National Award for Sustainable Architecture: VS1/SA Water Head Office, Adelaide, South Australia - HASSELL
National Commendation for Sustainable Architecture: Bendigo Bank Headquarters, Bendigo, Victoria - BVN Architecture + Gray Puksand
National Commendation for Sustainable Architecture: Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) Headquarters, Ultimo, NSW - Smart Design Studio

Heritage Architecture
The Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage: St Paul’s Cathedral, Conservation of the Fabric, Melbourne, VIC - Falkinger Andronas Architects Heritage Consultants
National Award for Heritage: Gardens House, Double Bay, NSW - Luigi Rosselli

Urban Design
The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design : Armory Wharf Precinct, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW – Hargreaves Associates, Lahz Nimmo Architects and Lacoste + Stevenson Architects
National Architecture Award for Urban Design: ivy, Sydney - Woods Bagot in collaboration with Merivale Group and Hecker Phelan & Guthrie
National Commendation for Urban Design: Rundle Lantern, Adelaide, South Australia - BB Architects

Small Project Architecture
National Award for Small Project Architecture: Polygreen, Northcote, Victoria - Bellemo & Cat
National Award for Small Project Architecture: Ang House, Mosman, NSW - Chenchow Little Architects

Interior Architecture
The Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture: Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Theatre Project, Southbank, Victoria - ARM
National Award for Interior Architecture: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, ACT - Johnson Pilton Walker
National Commendation for Interior Architecture: Jane Foss Russell Building, University of Sydney, NSW - John Wardle Architects in association with Wilson Architects and GHD

National 25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Victoria - Yuncken, Freeman Brothers, Griffiths and Simpson

Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
Snowy Mountains House, Snowy Mountains, NSW - James Stockwell Architect