New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award

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New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award
Exterior of The Glass House by Bill and Ruth Lucas.jpg
2024 Award winner, The Glass House, Castlecrag, built 1957
Awarded forOutstanding architecture over time (25 years or more)
Country Australia
Presented by Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter)
First award2003;22 years ago (2003)
Currently held by AJC Architects for Moore Park Gardens, 2025

The New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award is an architecture award presented annually by the New South Wales Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) since 2003. The award recognises existing buildings older than 25 years since construction. The average age of the 23 awarded projects to date is 44.5 years (between 2003—2025).

Contents

Background

Purpose

The award recognises significant, long lasting and innovative architecture with usually more than 25 years passed since the completion of construction. The Enduring Architecture Award recognises achievement for the design of buildings of outstanding merit, which have remained important as high quality works of architecture when considered in contemporary cultural, social, economic and environmental contexts. [1]

Nomination process

Nominations for the award can be made by AIA members, non–members and non–architects, but must provide adequate material and information supporting the nomination for consideration of the jury. [2] The nomination process is open to AIA members and public via a web portal during the awards submission window (between November and February). [3]

Political agenda of Award

The Enduring Architecture Award has gained an important role in highlighting conservation efforts for highly valued buildings at risk of significant changes or even demolition. Both the Sirius Building [4] public housing project in The Rocks and the MLC Building [5] [6] in North Sydney had both been at risk of alteration or demolition at the hands of their owners. The AIA has used the awards to raise public awareness of the plight of culturally significant buildings under threat, assisting in both cases to preserve the building and enhance heritage listing status.

National Awards

Recipients of the state–based award are then eligible for consideration for the National Award for Enduring Architecture presented later in the same year, as part of the Australian National Architecture Awards. Between 2003 and 2023 ten of the 21 National Awards were located in New South Wales.

Awards by year

2024 Award

In February 2024 it was announced the three person jury would be formed of Caroline Pidcock (Jury Chair), Paulo Macchia (Government Architect NSW) and Leone Lorrimer (GHD). [7] In the run up to the Awards presentation, three buildings were announced as under consideration for the 2024 Award including; St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney by Michael Fox Architects, NSW State Projects, William Wardell and Cyril Wardell; The Glass House, Castlecrag by Bill and Ruth Lucas and St Johns Village, Glebe by Hely, Bell & Horne (winner of the 1964 Sir John Sulman Medal).

At the NSW Architecture Awards held on 28 June 2024, The Glass House, Castlecrag was presented with the 2024 Award. The Award was accepted by Peter Lucas, son of Ruth and Bill Lucas, and builder of the recent restoration of the house completed in 2023 with Cracknell & Lonergan Architects. [8] [9]

2025 Award

In January 2025 it was announced the three person jury would be formed of former NSW Premier, the Honorable Bob Carr (Jury Chair) with architects Helen Lochhead AO and Peter McGregor (McGregor Westlake Architecture). [10]

At the 2025 NSW Architecture Awards, the inner city residential development known as Moore Park Gardens was presented with the award. The project was designed by AJC Architects and completed in 2000 on the former Tooths Brewery site between South Dowling Street and Bourke Streets, Redfern.

The jury citation described the project "...the site’s built form is both articulate and distinctive, with efficient planning and excellent apartment amenity that extends across towers, street edge blocks, maisonettes, and cross-overs. The robust and workmanlike material fabric shows few signs of age 25 years on, and the hundreds of residents that have maintained tenancy over this time demonstrate the ongoing success and relevance of the architecture, and the rich legacy it provides."

Recipients of the Award

New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award (reverse order)
YearArchitectProjectLocationYear BuiltYears SinceOther AIA/RAIA Awards
2025 AJC Architects Moore Park Gardens [11] [12] 780 Bourke Street, Redfern 200025 years
  • President's Award, 1999 (NSW)
2024 Bill and Ruth Lucas The Glass House [13] 80 The Bulwark, Castlecrag 195766 years
  • Heritage Architecture Award (Conservation), 2024 (NSW) awarded to Cracknell & Lonergan Architects
  • Built Heritage Award (Small Scale), 2024, National Trust NSW
  • Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage Architecture, 2024 [14]
2023 Hassell Olympic Park Station [15] Sydney Olympic Park 199825 years
2022 Ken Woolley Woolley House
(now Woolley Hesketh House)
34 Bullecourt Avenue, Mosman 196260 years
2021 Bates, Smart & McCutcheon MLC Building [16] 105–153 Miller Street, North Sydney 195764 years
2020 Richard Leplastrier Palm Garden House Bilgola Beach 198436 years
2019Edward Raht350 George Street [17] 350 George Street, Sydney 1895124 years
2018Tao Gofers, NSW Department of Housing with Alexander and Lloyd Architects Sirius Building [18] 38–70 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney198038 years
2017 Aaron M Bolot 17 Wylde Street Apartments17 Wylde Street, Potts Point 195166 years
2016John James & Associates Reader’s Digest BuildingWaterloo Street, Surry Hills 196749 years
2015 Hugh Buhrich Buhrich House II [19] 375 Edinburgh Road, Castlecrag 197243 years
2014Ian McKay and Philip Cox
Architects in Association
Tocal College (CB Alexander Campus) [20] 815 Tocal Road, Paterson [21] 196351 years
2013 Peddle Thorp & Walker AMP Building Alfred Street, Sydney 196251 years
2012 Harry Seidler Australia Square 264 George Street, Sydney 196745 years
2011 Glenn Murcutt Magney HouseBingie Point198031 years
2010 Harry Seidler Glen Street Offices' [22] 2 Glen Street, Milsons Point 197337 years
  • RAIA Interior Design Award (Penthouse apartment), 1991
  • RAIA Award, 1991
  • Sir John Sulman Medal, 1981
  • RAIA Award, 1974
2009 Bruce Rickard Curry House 2 Bayview, Sydney198227 years
  • Merit Award, 1983
2008Vivian Fraser in Association with NSW Government Architect (Ian Thomson) Wharf Theatre Walsh Bay 198523 years
2007E.H. Farmer (NSW Government Architect) and Andrew Andersons (Design Architect)First Extension to the Art Gallery of New South Wales (Captain Cook Wing) [24] Art Gallery of NSW 197235 years
2006 Peter Hall (Hall Todd & Littlemore)Concert Hall & Opera Theatre of the Sydney Opera House Sydney 197333 years
2005J.W. Thomson
(NSW Government Architect)
David Turner (Project Architect)
Allen Jack+Cottier (Documentation)
Bruce Mackenzie (Landscape Architect)
Kuring-gai College of Advanced Education (now Lindfield Learning Village)100 Eton Road, Lindfield 197235 years
2004 Glenn Murcutt Kempsey Farmhouse Kempsey 197430 years
2003 Jørn Utzon Sydney Opera House Sydney 197330 years

See also

References

  1. "2024 Entries Handbook, Chapter Awards, Section 2.3.5 Enduring Architecture Category" (PDF). Australian Institute of Architects. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  2. "2024 Entries Handbook, Chapter Awards, Section 2.3.5 Enduring Architecture Category" (PDF). Australian Institute of Architects. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  3. "NSW Enduring Architecture Award". Australian Institute of Architects. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  4. "Sirius Wins 2018 Enduring Architecture Award from NSW Australian Institute of Architects". Save Our Sirius. 8 July 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  5. "A win for heritage: Court protects North Sydney's MLC Building from demolition". National Trust. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  6. "Prize-winning high-rise faces wrecking ball after 'administrative error'". Sydney Morning Herald . 22 July 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  7. "architecture nsw juror announcement". Instagram. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  8. "2024 NSW Architecture Awards". Architecture AU. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  9. "2024 National Awards Program, The Glass House, Cracknell & Lonergan Architects". Australian Institute of Architects . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  10. "2025 Jury Unveiled for NSW Architecture Awards". Australian Institute of Architects. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  11. "Moore Park Gardens". Architects AJC. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  12. "2025 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  13. "2024 NSW Architecture Awards". Architecture AU. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  14. "2024 Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage Architecture". Australian Institute of Architects. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  15. "Olympic Park Station". Hassell Studio. June 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  16. "2021 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  17. "350 George Street History". 350 George Street. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  18. "2018 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com.au. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  19. "2015 NSW Architecture Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  20. "CB Alexander College Tocal". Cox Architecture . 23 June 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  21. "Tocal College". Google Maps. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  22. "Seidler Offices and Apartments". Seidler Associates. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  23. "25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture: The Wharf Theatre". ArchitectureAU.com.au. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  24. "The Captain Cook Wing 1968—72". Art Gallery of New South Wales . Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  25. "Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Renewal | ARM Architecture". Australian Institute of Architects. November 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2025.