Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design

Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design
Inaugural Civic Design Award winner, El Alamein Fountain, 1964
Awarded for	Urban Design in New South Wales
Country	Australia
Presented by	Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter)
First award	1964;61 years ago (1964)
Currently held by	Sydney Metro
Website	www.architecture.com.au/awards

The Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design is the annual named award for excellence in urban design in New South Wales, Australia as determined by jury appointed by the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), New South Wales Chapter.

Background

Definition of the award

According to the AIA Policy 13: Awards, Prizes and Honours, projects in this category may be 'single structures, groups of structures or non-building projects, studies or masterplans, which are of public, civic or urban design in nature. Awarded projects must have enhanced the quality of the built environment or public domain or contribute to the wellbeing of the broader community.' ^[1]

Australia Square, Sydney by Seidler & Associates, 1967 Civic Design Award winner

Civic design awards and recognition

In 1959 the Civic Trust Awards were established in the United Kingdom as an awards system to recognise outstanding planning, urban design and architecture. ^[2] In 1967 the Civic Trust of South Australia was established, based on the UK Civic Trust Awards and independent of the Australian Institute of Architects.

Early awards for civic design in NSW

A NSW based award for civic design was established in 1964. Robert Woodward of architectural practice Woodward, Tarantino and Wallace was presented with the inaugural award for the El Alamein Fountain ^[3] in Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross. The 1964 award was established to recognise an architectural project that was outside the traditional architecture award categories such as the Sir John Sulman Medal. Three years later in 1967 Harry Seidler was presented with an RAIA Civic Design Award for Australia Square recognising the integration of accessible public space in a private development. ^[4] In 1980 Jørn Utzon was presented with a RAIA Civic Design Award for the Sydney Opera House.

Change from civic design to urban design

The award was initially established as the Lloyd Rees Award for Civic Design in 1979 and given annually until 2002. The award category was modified to urban design in 2003 to better reflect changes in the architectural profession and the rise of urban design as the more common terminology for architectural projects of larger scale and community or public benefit.

Lloyd Rees Fountain plaque, Martin Place, December 1976

Naming of the award

The award was named in 1979 after Australian born artist and architectural educator Lloyd Rees (1895–1988). Lloyd Rees was a famous landscape painter and an influential figure in architecture and civic design. For decades he taught at the University of Sydney, and a member of the City of Sydney Fountains Committee (established 1957—1968) from 1962 to 1967. ^{[5] [6]} . The Lloyd Rees Fountain in Martin Place was sited and funded by Rees himself and opened in 1976. He is known for his quote "a city is the greatest work of art possible", which is inscribed on his cast bronze bust ^[7] at Sydney Town Hall, and also "what else is a city but a gallery of beautiful buildings?".

Recipients of Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design

Winners of Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design by year

Year	Architect	Project	Location	State	Type	Other AIA awards
2025	Sydney Metro (Transport for NSW)	Sydney Metro City: City Line Stations [8] (Sydenham, Waterloo, Central, Gadigal, Martin Place, Barangaroo, Victoria Cross, Crows Nest)	Sydney	New South Wales	Transport	NSW Architecture Medallion, 2025
2024	Cox Architecture and Aspect Studios	Sydney Football Stadium [9] [10]	Moore Park, Sydney	New South Wales	Recreation	Commendation for Public Architecture, 2024
2023	No Named Award [11]					Two commendations: City of Sydney Street Furniture Opera Residences, Circular Quay
2022	SJB	Newcastle East End [12]	Newcastle	New South Wales	Mixed Use	Awards to full team of SJB, Durbach Block Jaggers and Tonkin Zulaikha Greer: Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, 2022 Premier's Prize, 2022
2021	Lahznimmo Architects and Aspect Studios	Sub Base Platypus (Stage 1) [13]	120 High Street, North Sydney	New South Wales	Heritage	Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 2021 [14]
2020	Hassell in collaboration with Turpin Crawford Studio and McGregor Westlake Architecture	Metro Northwest [15]	Sydney	New South Wales	Transport	Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 2020 [16] Commendation for Public Architecture, 2020 (NSW)
2019	Mirvac Design, NSW Government Architect’s Office, City of Sydney, PTW	Harold Park Development [17]	Wigram Road, Glebe	New South Wales	Residential	City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Prize, 2019
2018	Hassell and Populous	Darling Harbour Renewal	Darling Harbour	New South Wales	Cultural	Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 2018 [18]
2017	Tzannes and Cox Richardson and Foster and Partners	Central Park, Sydney	Broadway, Chippendale	New South Wales	Mixed Use
2016	JPW and TKD Architects in collaboration	5 Martin Place	Martin Place, Sydney	New South Wales	Commercial
2015	NSW Government Architect’s Office with McGregor Westlake	Wollongong City Centre and Crown Street Mall Renewal [19]	Crown Street, Wollongong	New South Wales	Public Space
2014	Neeson Murcutt Architects in Association with City of Sydney	Prince Alfred Park and Pool Upgrade [20] [21]	Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills	New South Wales	Recreation	Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 2014 [22] National Award for Public Architecture, 2014 Sir John Sulman Medal, 2014 (NSW) City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Prize, 2014 (NSW)
2013	FJMT and Aspect Studios	Darling Quarter	Darling Harbour	New South Wales	Mixed Use
2012	BVN Architecture	Taronga Zoo Upper Entry Precinct	Mosman	New South Wales	Public Space
2011	Tonkin Zulaikha Greer	National Centre of Indigenous Excellence	166-180 George Street, Redfern	New South Wales	Cultural
2010	Tonkin Zulaikha Greer with JMD Design & the City of Sydney	Paddington Reservoir Gardens [23]	255a Oxford Street, Paddington	New South Wales	Public Space	Greenway Award for Heritage, 2010 (NSW)
2009	Merivale Group, Woods Bagot and Hecker Phelan Guthrie	Ivy Precinct	George Street, Sydney	New South Wales	Commercial	Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture, 2009 (National) National Award for Urban Design, 2009 Commercial Architecture Award, 2009 (NSW) [24]
2008	Rice Daubney, Allen Jack and Cottier and Group GSA in association with Civitas Urban Design and Planning	Rouse Hill Town Centre	Main Street, Rouse Hill	New South Wales	Town Centre	Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 2008
2007	Johnson Pilton Walker	Westpac Place	Kent Street, Sydney	New South Wales	Commercial
2006	Durbach Block Architects	Brickpit Ring [25]	Sydney Olympic Park	New South Wales	Public Space
2005	HPA, PTW, Tropman and Tropman, Bates Smart, Clive Lucas Stapleton and Partners	Walsh Bay Redevelopment [26]	Hickson Road, Millers Point	NSW	Mixed Use	Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 2005
2004	No Named Award
2003	New South Wales Government Architect in association with Hassell and Turpin and Crawford Studio	Victoria Park	Zetland	New South Wales	Public Space
2002	Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority in association with New South Wales Government Architect, Department of Public Works & Service	Dawes Point Park	Dawes Point, The Rocks	New South Wales	Public Space
2000	FJMT	John Niland Scientia Building and Red Centre, UNSW	Kensington	New South Wales	Education	Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2000 Sir John Sulman Medal, 2000 (NSW)
1999	Lippmann Associates	King George V Recreation Centre	Cumberland Street, The Rocks	New South Wales	Recreation
1998	Sydney Cove Authority	Long's Lane Precinct Stage 3 conservation	The Rocks, Sydney	New South Wales	Heritage
1997	New South Wales Government Architect (Chris Johnson) with design architect Eric Wisden	Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital redevelopment	Macquarie Street, Sydney	New South Wales	Heritage
1997	Tonkin Zuliakha	Overseas Passenger Terminal	The Rocks, Sydney	New South Wales	Transport
1996
1995	Denton Corker Marshall	Museum of Sydney	Bridge Street, Sydney	New South Wales	Cultural
1994	Tonkin Zulaikha Harford Architects (joint winner)	The Rocks Square	The Rocks, Sydney	New South Wales	Public Building	Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 1994 Merit Award for Urban Design, 1994 (NSW)
1994	PTW	UNSW Quadrangle Building	Kensington	New South Wales	Education	Merit Award for Urban Design, 1994 (NSW) [27] Merit Award for Architecture, 1994 (NSW)
1993
1992
1991	Robert Woodward	Water Feature at Darling Harbour ′Tidal Cascade′	Darling Harbour, Sydney	New South Wales	Public Fountain	Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 1991 AILA National Civic Design Award, (NSW)
1990
1989
1988	NSW Public Works Department, Architectural Division with Allen Jack and Cottier, Conybeare Morrison and Partners, Hall Bowe and Webber, and Lawrence Nield and Partners	Circular Quay and Macquarie Street Redevelopment for the Australian Bicentenary	Macquarie Street, Sydney	New South Wales	Public Space	National Award for Civic Design, 1988
1987
1986
1985	Vivian Fraser in Association with NSW Government Architect (Ian Thomson)	Wharf Theatre	Hickson Road, Walsh Bay	New South Wales	Cultural	National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2008 [28] President's Award for Recycled Buildings, 1985 (National Awards)
1984
1983
1982
1981	Harry Seidler	MLC Martin Place	25 Martin Place, Sydney	New South Wales	Commercial	Sir John Sulman Medal, 1983
1980	Jørn Utzon	Sydney Opera House		New South Wales	Cultural	NSW Enduring Architecture Award, 2003 RAIA Merit Award, 1974 RAIA Commemorative Award, Jørn Utzon – Sydney Opera House, 1992
1979
1967	Harry Seidler	Australia Square	264 George Street, Sydney	New South Wales	Commercial	National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2012 New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award, 2012 Sir John Sulman Medal, 1968 RAIA Civic Design Award for a work of outstanding environmental design, 1967
1964	Woodward, Tarantino and Wallace (Robert Woodward)	El Alamein Fountain	Fitzroy Gardens, Macleay Street, Kings Cross	New South Wales	Public Fountain	RAIA Civic Design Award, 1964

Gallery of award winners

Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design

• 
  1964 Award, El Alamein Fountain, Kings Cross
• 
  1967 Award, Australia Square, George Street, Sydney
• 
  1980 Award, Sydney Opera House
• 
  1981 Award, MLC Martin Place
• 
  1985 Award, Wharf Theatre, Walsh Bay
• 
  1991 Award, Darling Harbour Fountain, 'Tidal Cascade'
• 
  1995 Award, Museum of Sydney, Bridge Street, Sydney
• 
  1997 Award, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay
• 
  1997 Award, Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital, Macquarie Street, Sydney
• 
  1998 Award, Long's Lane Precinct, The Rocks, Sydney
• 
  2000 Award, John Niland Scientia Building and Red Centre, UNSW
• 
  2006 Award, Brickpit Ring, Sydney Olympic Park
• 
  2008 Award, Rouse Hill Town Centre
• 
  2010 Award, Paddington Reservoir Gardens
• 
  2014 Award, Prince Alfred Park and Pool

See also

• Architecture portal
• Australia portal

• Australian Institute of Architects
• Australian Institute of Architects Awards and Prizes
• Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design
• Australian Urban Design Awards

References

1. Australian Institute of Architects (November 2020). "Policy 13 Awards, Prizes and Honours, Section 13.3.5" (PDF). Architecture.com.au. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
2. "Special Awards". Civic Trust Awards. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
3. "El Alamein Fountain". City of Sydney Archives. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
4. Hunn, Patrick (8 May 2017). "Seidler's Australia Square celebrates 50th anniversary". Architecture AU. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
5. "Lloyd Rees". Monument Australia. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
6. City of Sydney Archives. "Sydney Fountains Committee". City of Sydney. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
7. "Sculptures, Lloyd Rees". City of Sydney. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
8. Burke, Kelly (20 June 2025). "'Legacy-making' Sydney metro stations take out top prize in NSW Architecture awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
9. "2024 NSW Architecture Awards". Architecture AU. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
10. "Allianz Stadium Wins Top Urban Design Title at the 2024 NSW Architecture Awards". Cox Architecture. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
11. "2023 NSW Architecture Awards". Australian Insititute of Architecture. June 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
12. "2022 NSW Architecture Awards". Australian Institute of Architects. June 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
13. "2021 NSW Architecture Awards Winners". Australian Institute of Architects. June 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
14. "The winners of the 40th National Architecture Awards". Architecture AU. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
15. "2020 NSW Architecture Awards Winners". Architecture AU. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
16. "'Above and beyond': The winners of the 2020 National Architecture Awards". Australian Institute of Architects. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
17. "2019 NSW Architecture Awards". Australian Institute of Architects. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
18. "2018 National Architecture Awards: The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design". Architecture AU. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
19. "2015 NSW Architecture Awards". Architecture AU. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
20. "2014 NSW Architecture Awards". Architecture AU. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
21. "2014 National Architecture Awards". Architecture AU. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
22. "2014 National Architecture Awards: Walter Burley Griffin Award". Architecture AU. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
23. "NSW Architecture Awards 20". Indesign Live. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
24. "Winners of Australian 2009 NSW Architecture Awards". Bustler. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
25. "RAIA State Awards". Architecture AU. 1 July 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
26. "Full awards list". The Sydney Morning Herald . 18 June 2005. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
27. "Practice Awards". PTW.com.au. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
28. "25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture: The Wharf Theatre". ArchitectureAU.com.au. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2025.