The city-shaping Sydney Metro City Stations project led the list of winners at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2025 NSW Architecture Awards announced recently at a special event in Sydney. Woods Bagot led the design for two of the six stations that made up the multi-award winning Sydney Metro City Stations.

Showcasing the very best in NSW architecture, this year’s award-winners offer a vivid snapshot of the ever-changing built environment across the state. Selected from a remarkable 284 entries and a shortlist of 137 projects through a comprehensive judging process by a jury of industry experts, the 72 winners and commendations display a breadth of architectural thinking that reveals not just how we live today, but what our built environment could be tomorrow.

06_First Building - Bradfield City Centre_Hassell_Mark Syke .jpg — *Premier’s Prize | First Building – Bradfield City Centre | Hassell | Photography: Mark Syke*

This year’s winning projects are united by a number of defining themes including a commitment to designing with care; innovative adaptive reuse strategies; new housing models exploring how higher-density living can enhance quality of life; sustainability considerations placing future resilience front and centre of design; and collaborations across disciplines and practices.

“The NSW Chapter’s Architecture Awards program recognises more than design excellence – it promotes public awareness, encourages best practice, and sets benchmarks for quality, sustainability, and social impact. With 284 entries across 13 categories, judged by 37 jurors through 137 site visits, the scale of the program reflects its significance,” Jury Chair of Chairs, Annabel Lahz says.

00_Yarrila Place_BVN_Tom Roe.jpg — *The Sulman Medal for Public Architecture: Yarrila Place | BVN | Photography: Tom Roe*

NSW Chapter President, Elizabeth Carpenter adds, “This year’s NSW Architecture Awards highlight a profession not only responding to urgent challenges, but leading with integrity, innovation and care. The awarded projects are powerful reminders that architecture is both an art and a responsibility – one that connects communities, strengthens cultural understanding, and shapes more sustainable and inclusive futures.”

02_ROSEBERY ENGINE YARDS_GROUPSA_Tyrone Branigan.jpg — *Lord Mayor’s Prize: Rosebery Engine Yards | GroupGSA | Photography: Tyrone Branigan*

2025 Winners

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture

Award: Eco-House Leura | Marra + Yeh Architects | The Dharug and The Gundungurra People

Commercial Architecture

The Sir Arthur G Stephenson Award for Commercial Architecture: 39 Martin Place | Tzannes | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: 1 Elizabeth | JPW | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: 50 Belmore Street | Bates Smart | The Dharug and the Gundungurra People

Award: Bourke & Bowden | Wardle | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: Rochester Street Office | Allied_Office, Akin Atelier, Second Edition, and Dangar Barin Smith | The Bidjigal, Birrabiragal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: 25 Martin Place Retail Redevelopment | Woods Bagot and Harry Seidler & Associates | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Bundarra | Smart Design Studio | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: First Building - Bradfield City Centre | Hassell | The People of the Dharug Nation

Educational Architecture

The William E Kemp Award for Educational Architecture: St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Rosebery | Neeson Murcutt Neille | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: Michael Kirby Building | Hassell | The Wallumattagal Clan of the Dharug Nation

Commendation: Bankstown City Campus by Walker Corporation for Western Sydney University | Lyons + HDR | The People of the Dharug Nation

Commendation: Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College, Scientia Terrace | Hayball | The Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Enduring Architecture

Award for Enduring Architecture: Moore Park Gardens | AJC Architects | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Heritage

The Greenway Award for Heritage: White Bay Power Station | Design 5 – Architects with Placemaking NSW | The Wangal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award – Conservation: Parliament of NSW Restoration | Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Purcel Architecture | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award – Creative Adaptation: Former Workmen’s Dwellings Lower Fort Street | Neeson Murcutt Neille | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award – Creative Adaptation: Nioka House | A Studio Architects and Gordon Valich Architects | The Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Award – Creative Adaptation: Reddam House North Shore | AJC Architects | The Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Interior Architecture

The John Verge Award for Interior Architecture: Babylon House | Casey Brown Architecture | The Ku-ring-gai People

Award: Boot Factory and Mill Hill Centre Precinct | Archer Office | The Bidjigal, Birrabirragal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: Moxy Sydney Airport | GROUPGSA | The Gameygal People

Award: New Castle | Anthony St John Parsons | The Awabakal People

Commendation: City Recital Hall Renewal | Archer Office in association with City of Sydney | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Prefecture 48 | Bates Smart | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Rosherville House | Kennedy Nolan | The Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Public Architecture

The Sulman Medal for Public Architecture: Yarrila Place | BVN | The Gumbaynggirr People

Award: Allan Border Oval Pavilion | Archer Office | The Borogegal and Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Award: Pyrmont Community Centre | Welsh + Major in association with the City of Sydney | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Artspace | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Cobar Ward Oval Pavilion | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan People

Commendation: Murrook | Derive Architecture & Design with Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council | The Worimi People

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

The Hugh and Eva Buhrich Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions): House in Erskineville | Architect George | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: Babylon House | Casey Brown Architecture | The Ku-ring-gai People

Award: Back to Front House | Ian Moore Architects | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: Cloaked House | TRIAS | The Borogegal and Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Bondi Breeze | PANOV – SCOTT | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Cake House | Alexander Symes Architect | The People of the Yuin Nation

Commendation: House in Narrawallee | Architect George | The Budawang People of the Yuin Nation

Commendation: Rainbow House | Virginia Kerridge Architect | The Bidjigal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Residential Architecture - Houses (New)

The Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New): New Castle | Anthony St John Parsons | The Awabakal People

Award: Lagoon House | Peter Stutchbury Architecture | The Garigal People

Award: Lighthouse | BVN | The Arakwal, Minjungbal and Widjabul People of the Bundjalung Nation

Award: Morning Bay House | Casey Brown Architecture | The Ku-ring-gai People

Commendation: Amongst the Eucalypts | JGDW - Jason Gibney Design Workshop | The Worimi People

Commendation: Eco-House Leura | Marra + Yeh Architects | The Dharug and the Gundungurra People

Commendation: Little Young Street 4A & 4B | David Langston-Jones | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Residential Architecture: Multiple Housing

The Aaron Bolot Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing: Wentworth Quarter | Bates Smart | The Wangal People of the Dharug Nation

Award: Green Square Site 15 | Smart Design StudioCO-AP and Mirvac Design | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: Indi Sydney | Bates Smart | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: One Sydney Harbour | RPBW Architects, Guernier Architecture and PTW Architects | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: Sirius Redevelopment | BVN | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Nautilus | Smart Design Studio | The Wodi Wodi People

Commendation: Pointe | Luigi Rosselli Architects | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: The Regent | Candalepas Associates | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Waverton Townhouses | ess | The Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Small Project Architecture

The Robert Woodward Award for Small Project Architecture: Love Shack | Second Edition | The Bidjigal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: Callan Park Waterfront Green Amenities | Stanic Harding Architects | The Wangal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Bath Haus | Burrow Architecture | The People of the Yuin Nation

Sustainable Architecture

The Milo Dunphy Award for Sustainable Architecture: Boot Factory and Mill Hill Centre Precinct | Archer Office | The Bidiagal, Birrabirragal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: Cloaked House | TRIAS | The Borogegal and Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation

Award: First Building - Bradfield City Centre | Hassell | The People of the Dharug Nation

Commendation: Cobar Early Learning Centre | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | The Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan People

Commendation: Habilis | Collins and Turner | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Indi Sydney | Bates Smart | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Commendation: Love Shack | Second Edition | The Bidjigal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Urban Design

The Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design: Sydney Metro City Stations | Sydney Metro | The Cammeraygal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Award: Rosebery St. Joseph’s Precinct | Neeson Murcutt Neille | The Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Chapter Specific Prizes

EmAGN Project Award: Green Heart - the urban garden | Studio Oulala Architects | The Gayamaygal People

Emerging Architect Prize: Gabrielle Pelletier

The Blacket Prize for Regional Architecture: Cobar Ward Oval Pavilion | DunnHillam Architecture + Urban Design | The Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan People

Lord Mayor’s Prize: Rosebery Engine Yards | GroupGSA | The Bidjigal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Premier’s Prize: First Building – Bradfield City Centre | Hassell | The People of the Dharug Nation

NSW Architecture Medallion: Sydney Metro City Stations | Sydney Metro | The Cammeraygal and Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Main image: NSW Architecture Medallion | Sydney Metro City Stations | Sydney Metro | Photography: Peter Bennetts

Architecture News & Editorial Desk

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