From heritage breweries to cutting-edge hospitals and tropical learning hubs, discover the bold designs reshaping Queensland’s architectural landscape.

Kangaroo Point Bridge has swept the stage at the recently announced Australian Institute of Architects Queensland Awards, taking home three accolades.

The project was awarded Queensland’s highest architectural honour, the Queensland Architecture Medallion. It was also the recipient of the Karl Langer Award for Urban Design and an award for Sustainable Architecture.

Blight Rayner Architecture, in collaboration with Dissing + Weitling Concept, were responsible for the architecture and design of the project. Brisbane City Council, with Arup and COX Architecture, completed the project’s reference design.

Spanning 460m across the Brisbane River, the bridge links Kangaroo Point to the Brisbane CBD. It provides dedicated pedestrian and cycle paths that promote active transport and reduce reliance on vehicles.

The integration of riverside dining venues, including a restaurant, bar, and café, creates a vibrant social destination for tourists and locals alike.

The jury praises Kangaroo Point Bridge for showing how investment in key public infrastructure can enhance mobility and livability in our rapidly growing cities.

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Image Mapleton House / Atelier Chen Hung / David Chatfield

Matso’s Sunshine Coast Brewery has won the Commercial Architecture Award, the EmAGN Project Award and a commendation for Sustainable Architecture.

Designed by Five Mile Radius and Knight Wilson Architects, the project transformed the heritage-listed Joe’s Waterhole in Eumundi into a brewery, restaurant and beer garden.

The jury describes the project as a “respectful execution of a substantial renovation to a heritage building on the high street of a small character town”.

The project creates “a space that now attracts an all-ages clientele, resulting in a deservedly popular destination”.

The St Marcellin Centre has won this year’s Queensland People’s Choice Prize and an award for Educational Architecture.

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Image: Matsos Sunshine Coast / Five Mile Radius / Yassera Moosa

Designed by Phorm architecture + design, the jury hailed the project at Marist College Primary School in the Brisbane suburb of Ashgrove as “a benchmark for high standards of contemporary architecture”.

The jury says the St Marcellin Centre acts as “a physical and visual bridge between the main school and the sports precinct”.

The Caboolture Hospital Clinical Services Building has been awarded the FDG Stanley Award for Public Architecture. The project also received this year’s Social Impact Prize and a commendation for Interior Architecture.

Designed by Jacobs, the clinical services building is the centrepiece of the new Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment.

The project brings landscape character into the heart of the design, resulting in an “integration of community, culture and clinical health services,” according to the jury.

The James Cook University Engineering & Innovation Place has won the Jennifer Taylor Award for Educational Architecture, the GHM Addison Award for Interior Architecture and the Harry Marks Award for Sustainable Architecture.

Designed by KIRK with i4 Architecture and Charles Wright Architects, judges hailed the building in Douglas as a benchmark project for future education design in the tropical regions.

The jury notes that the multi-story educational facility’s design was “driven by a response to site and climate” resulting in “spectacular spaces”.

The Cathedral School Sports Precinct in Mundingburra, Townsville, was awarded the Regional Project of the Year Prize and received an Award for Educational Architecture.

Designed by local architect Stephen de Jersey Architect, judges commend the Sports Precinct as an “unabashedly monumental structure for the school campus”.

The judges also describes the precinct as an exemplary “climatically responsive gathering space”.

The sporting complex consists of eight multi-purpose hardcourts. Two of these are covered by a roof structure that remains completely open on the northern and southern sides, allowing for natural airflow and ventilation.
Queensland’s best residential architecture were also unveiled at the awards.

Mapleton House, designed by Atelier Chen Hung received the Robin Dods Award for Residential Architecture in the Houses (NEW) category.

Designed by John Ellway, Niwa House earned the Elina Mottram Award for Residential Architecture in the Houses (Alterations and Additions) category.

Four Dwellings on 800m2, designed by Clare Design, won the Jobs & Froud Award for Residential Architecture in the Multiple Housing category.

Dr Kali Marnane, Associate Director at Urbis, was awarded the Queensland Emerging Architect Prize.

The jury recognises Marnane for her research and community involvement, which is marked by generosity, selflessness, and advocacy for underrepresented community members.

Her academic and industry contributions have helped educate and inspire the next generation of architects.

Image: Kangaroo Point Bridge / Blight Rayner Architecture with Dissing + Weitling / supplied

Clémence Carayol

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