Western Australia’s most notable architectural projects have been recognised at the 2026 WA Architecture Awards, with judges highlighting innovation, sustainability and community-focused design as defining characteristics of this year’s winners.

ECU City, an innovative vertical university campus in the heart of Perth, designed by Lyons in collaboration with Silver Thomas Hanley and Haworth Tompkins, was awarded Western Australia’s highest architectural accolade, the George Temple Poole Award, also ending the evening with the highest number of awards. This world-class campus project also won the Hillson Beasley Award for Educational Architecture, the Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture, and the RJ Gus Ferguson Award for Urban Design.

00_11257-commercial_NineTheEsplanade_HassellREX_PeterBennets.jpg — *Award for Commercial Architecture (WA) | Nine The Esplanade | REX and Hassell | Photo: Peter Bennetts*

Presented by the Australian Institute of Architects, the annual awards celebrate excellence across the state’s built environment and provide insight into the ideas influencing contemporary architecture in Western Australia. The winners were selected following an extensive judging process undertaken by a panel of industry professionals and design leaders.

According to Jury Chair Peter Hobbs, a common thread emerged across many of the awarded projects: the ability to deliver high-quality outcomes despite economic pressures affecting both the construction industry and the broader community.

“The jury identified a ‘More with Less’ theme, with architects responding to post-COVID cost increases and current cost of living pressures, managing to stretch budgets and wring every cent of value out of each design decision,” Hobbs informs.

*Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing (WA) | White Street | Hartree + Associates Architects | Photo: Acorn*

Sustainability also remained a prominent consideration among the winning projects, with architects employing a range of strategies aimed at reducing environmental impact while improving building performance through materiality and adaptive reuse.

“In the residential sector, the biggest sustainability gains were from a ‘build just enough strategy' – more modest but high performing buildings, providing enhanced amenity for users, using less material, designing for more with less. This aligns with the essential goal for decarbonisation of the built environment through dematerialisation. This trend to “just enough" was driven by a dual commitment to a sustainability agenda while meeting the current needs of the household within affordability constraints and planning for flexibility for future adaptability to future needs,” he elaborates.

01_11319-resnew_LathlainHouse_SilvaMustard_Putrasia.jpg — *Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) (WA) | People’s Choice Award | Lathlain House | Silva & Mustard | Photo: Putrasia*

A recurring theme was the revitalisation of underutilised sites and heritage assets, described by the jury as ‘acts of repair’, with several winning projects demonstrating how existing places can be transformed into vibrant social hubs for the local community within the existing heritage fabric.

“Similarly, commercial projects had a strong sense of civic generosity through urban revitalisation; civic insertions that welcome the local community with dedicated public access,” Hobbs adds.

Budget constraints have also become a catalyst for creative problem-solving rather than a barrier to design quality, the jury observes.

“In the shadow of the cost-of-living crisis, architects have had to work hard to deliver on client aspirations within some extreme budget challenges. Rather than being a negative, this has forced architects to innovate and create thoughtful, delightful outcomes,” he explains.

02_10742-interior_ECU City_Lyons et al_Peter Bennetts.jpg — *The Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture | ECU City | Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley and Haworth Tompkins | Photo: Peter Bennetts*

The jury also describes the multi-award-winning ECU City as “the most spectacular example of civic generosity and revitalisation”.

“The project not only brings hundreds of students and staff into the location and providing a pathway between the CBD and Northbridge, the building itself welcomes the public with access throughout most parts of the building. Performance spaces are distributed vertically. These will provide both teaching and public performances.”

2026 Western Australia Architecture Award Winners

Commercial Architecture

The Ross Chisholm and Gil Nicol Award for Commercial Architecture | Marri Pavilions | Rezen Studio

Award for Commercial Architecture (WA) | Nine The Esplanade | REX and Hassell

Award for Commercial Architecture (WA) | Enex 100 Redevelopment | Woods Bagot

Commendation for Commercial Architecture (WA) | Baillie Hill | Benson Bailey Studio

Commendation for Commercial Architecture (WA) | One Midland Square | Hassell

Educational Architecture

The Hillson Beasley Award for Educational Architecture | ECU City | Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley and Haworth Tompkins

Award for Educational Architecture (WA) | Manjali Studio School | Lyons

Award for Educational Architecture (WA) | Duncraig Senior High School Rebuild | With Architecture Studio

Award for Educational Architecture (WA) | University of Notre Dame Australia Fremantle Campus Library and Student Hub | Hames Sharley

Commendation for Educational Architecture (WA) | AngliSchools House | Hassell

00_10726_University of Notre Dame Library and Student Hub_Hames Sharley_Dion Robeson.jpg — *Award for Educational Architecture (WA) | Award for Interior Architecture (WA) | University of Notre Dame Australia Fremantle Campus Library and Student Hub | Hames Sharley | Photo: Dion Robeson*

Heritage

The Margaret Pitt Morison Award for Heritage | Prendiville Group HQ | spaceagency Architects

Award for Heritage (WA) | Baillie Hill | Benson Bailey Studio

Interior Architecture

The Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture | ECU City | Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley and Haworth Tompkins

Award for Interior Architecture (WA) | University of Notre Dame Australia Fremantle Campus Library and Student Hub | Hames Sharley

Commendation for Interior Architecture (WA) | Baillie Hill | Benson Bailey Studio

Enduring Architecture

The Richard Roach Jewell Award for Enduring Architecture | UWA Conservatorium of Music | Forbes & Fitzhardinge, with partner in charge Anthony Brand

Public Architecture

Commendation for Public Architecture (WA) | St John WA Coolamon Centre | Plus Studio®

Commendation for Public Architecture (WA) | Special Needs Dental Clinic, SPH Architecture + Interiors

02_10770-commercial_MarriPavilions_RezenStudio_JackLovel.jpg — *The Ross Chisholm and Gil Nicol Award for Commercial Architecture | COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture (WA) | Marri Pavilions | Rezen Studio | Photo: Jack Lovel*

Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations and Additions)

The Peter Overman Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) | Mount Lawley Addition | Ross McAndrew Architect

Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) (WA) | Clifton House | Matthew Crawford Architects

Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) (WA) | Oakover | Amass Architects

Residential Architecture - Houses (New)

The Marshall Clifton Award for Residential Architecture - Houses (New) | Eric Street | Officer Woods Architects

Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) (WA) | Cottesloe House | Vokes and Peters with Sam Carter

Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) (WA) | eton | vittinoAshe architects

Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) (WA) | Lathlain House | Silva & Mustard

Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) (WA) | Wildwood Barn | Bare Architects

Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing

Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing (WA) | Eric Street | Officer Woods Architects

Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing (WA) | White Street | Hartree + Associates Architects

Commendation for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing (WA) | Elysian Subiaco | MJA studio

Commendation for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing (WA) | Common Ground East Perth | Gresley Abas

02_10768-small_StillwaterHouse_RezenStudio_JackLovel.jpg — *Award for Small Project Architecture (WA) | Stillwater House | Rezen Studio | Photo: Jack Lovel*

Small Project Architecture

The Iwan Iwanoff Award for Small Project Architecture | St Thomas More Columbarium | Simon Pendal Architect

Award for Small Project Architecture (WA) | Stillwater House | Rezen Studio

Award for Small Project Architecture (WA) | South Beach Public Facilities | Bernard Seeber Architects

Commendation for Small Project Architecture (WA) | House for All | Officer Woods Architects

Commendation for Small Project Architecture (WA) | Gibbon Crossing and Parkland Heart, Perth Zoo | iredale pedersen hook architects with HASSELL

Commendation for Small Project Architecture (WA) | Lake Joondalup Bird Viewing Structure and Footpath - Yellagonga Regional Park | Sphere Architects

00_11422-Heritage_BaillieHill_BensonBaileyStudio_CarlaAtley.jpg — *Award for Urban Design (WA) | Award for Heritage (WA) | Baillie Hill | Benson Bailey Studio | Photo: Carla Atley*

Urban Design

The RJ Gus Ferguson Award for Urban Design | ECU City | Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley and Haworth Tompkins

Award for Urban Design (WA) | Baillie Hill | Benson Bailey Studio

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture (WA) | Marri Pavilions | Rezen Studio

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture - Commendation (WA) | Gibbon Crossing and Parkland Heart, Perth Zoo | iredale pedersen hook architects with HASSELL

Sustainable Architecture

The Wallace Greenham Award for Sustainable Architecture Award | Hinderwell House | MDC Architects

Award for Sustainable Architecture (WA) | Eric Street | Officer Woods Architects

Commendation for Sustainable Architecture (WA) | eton | vittinoAshe architects

09_11082-resnew_Magic Carpet House_HAA_RNFstudio.jpg — *The Mondoluce Lighting Award | Magic Carpet House | Hartree + Associates Architects | Photo: RNF Studio*

Chapter Specific Awards

EmAGN Project Award | Clifton House | Matthew Crawford Architects

The Mondoluce Lighting Award | Magic Carpet House | Hartree + Associates Architects

Lighting Award | Garde Hotel | Matthew Crawford Architects and Meyer Shircore Architects and Foolscap Studio

Commendation for Lighting Award | eton | vittinoAshe architects

George Temple Poole Award | ECU City | Lyons with Silver Thomas Hanley and Haworth Tompkins

The Brian Kidd Enabling Architecture Prize | South Beach Public Facilities | Bernard Seeber Architects

Commendation for Enabling Architecture | Special Needs Dental Clinic | SPH Architecture + Interiors

People’s Choice Award | Lathlain House | Silva & Mustard

All images supplied

Architecture News & Editorial Desk

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