# National Award for Enduring Architecture

The National Award for Enduring Architecture is an Australian architecture prize presented annually by the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) since 2003. The award recognises long lasting, innovative and culturally significant Australian architecture with usually more than 25 years passed since the completion of construction.

## Background

The Award for Enduring Architecture recognises achievement for the design of buildings of outstanding merit, which remain important as high quality works of architecture when considered in the contemporary context. Nominations for the award can be made by AIA members, non-members and non-architects, but they must provide adequate material and information supporting a nomination for consideration of the jury. The Award also provides opportunity to recognise buildings that were not previously submitted into the annual awards programs.
The Award was initially called the National 25 Year Award when it was established in 2003. In 2007 the award name was changed to the '25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture' later becoming the 'National Award for Enduring Architecture' in 2011. The American Institute of Architects has awarded a 25 Year Award annually since 1969. The ACT Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects inaugurated the first '25 Year Award' for architecture in Australia in 1995.

## State awards for enduring architecture

The Australian Institute of Architects national awards jury selects a national winner each year from a shortlist made of up to eight selected state and territory 'enduring architecture projects' from the AIA local chapter awards including;
* Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture (Australian Capital Territory, started 1995)
* New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award (started 2003)
* Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award (Victoria, started 2003)
* Robin Gibson Award for Enduring Architecture (Queensland, started 2003)
* Jack Cheesman Award for Enduring Architecture (South Australia, started 2005)
* Tasmania Award for Enduring Architecture (started 2010)
* Northern Territory Enduring Architecture Award (started 2013)
* Richard Roach Jewell Award for Enduring Architecture (Western Australia, started 2015)
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.

## Inaugural award, Sydney Opera House, 2003

In November 2003 arguably Australia's most well known building, the Sydney Opera House, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon was acknowledged with the inaugural National Award for Enduring Architecture (National 25 Year Award) shortly after the 30th anniversary of the building's official opening on 20 October 1973. This acknowledgement followed the awarding of the inaugural New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award to the Sydney Opera House in July 2003 at the New South Wales Chapter Awards.
   ″The 25 Year Award acknowledges the Sydney Opera House as an exemplar of the great contribution that architecture can make to a city and a nation.
   Designed at the vast scale of Sydney Harbour itself, the Opera House established itself as a world icon of modern design long before 'iconic' buildings such as the Guggenheim in Bilbao were consciously conceived for their commercial effect.
   The design has remained timeless and has stood the test of time – making no reference to the traditional forms associated with the public architecture of its time, dissolving wall into roof as one sculptural whole on a massive base. The grandeur, elegance and scale of the building restored the concept of the 'monument' as a socially acceptable expression in an age of neutral functionalism and, over time, and it has re-established the fundamental role of great architecture and public places in the making of contemporary Australian cities.
   The building is also a reminder that the visions, timeframes and budgets of a particular historical moment cannot easily comprehend the ongoing significance of major individual public projects, or their ultimate commercial and social value to a city. Now more than 25 years after its completion, the Opera House is undergoing agreed modifications following a thoughtful and consultative process involving Jørn Utzon. From this alone, the Sydney Opera House, the NSW Government and the Australian community have benefited in re-establishing a relationship with the original architect.
   With the assistance of the architectural profession, and the RAIA, and through the co-operation of the NSW Government and the Federal Government, it is hoped that the Sydney Opera House will be officially nominated for World Heritage Listing in 2004.″
   — AIA National Jury Citation, 2003
The move to recognition followed a long period of reconciliation with Utzon and plans for new work and restoration of the Opera House. The award also assisted in the process for UNESCO World Heritage nomination, eventually confirmed in 2007.

## List of National Award recipients

National Award for Enduring Architecture (reverse order) :
| Year | Architect | Project | Location | State | Year Built | Years Since | Other AIA/RAIA Awards |
| 2024 | Donovan Hill | C House | Cooparoo, Brisbane | Queensland | 1998 | 26 years | Robin Gibson Award for Enduring Architecture, 2024 |
| 2023 | Gregory Burgess | Brambuk: Living Cultural Centre (now The National Parks and Cultural Centre) | 277 Grampians Road, Halls Gap | Victoria | 1990 | 33 years | Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award, 2023 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1990 |
| 2022 | Ken Woolley | Woolley House (now Woolley Hesketh House) | 34 Bullecourt Avenue, Mosman | New South Wales | 1962 | 60 years | NSW Enduring Architecture Award, 2022 Wilkinson Award, 1962 |
| 2021 | Kevin Borland, John and Phyllis Murphy and Peter McIntyre (with engineer Bill Irwin) | Swimming and Diving Stadium | Olympic Boulevard and Batman Avenue, Melbourne | Victoria | 1956 | 63 years | Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award, 2021 Building of the Year, 1956 |
| 2020 | Richard Leplastrier | Palm Garden House | Bilgola Beach | New South Wales | 1984 | 36 years | NSW Enduring Architecture Award, 2020 |
| 2019 | Philip Cox & Partners | Ayers Rock Resort (now Sails in the Desert) | Yulara | Northern Territory | 1984 | 35 years | Northern Territory Enduring Architecture Award, 2019 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1985 |
| 2018 | Hall, Phillips and Wilson Architects | Townsville Courts of Law Edmund Sheppard Building | 31 Walker Street, Townsville | Queensland | 1975 | 43 years | Robin Gibson Award for Enduring Architecture, 2018 (Qld) |
| 2017 | Aaron Bolot | 17 Wylde Street Apartments | 17 Wylde Street, Potts Point | New South Wales | 1951 | 66 years | NSW Enduring Architecture Award, 2017 |
| 2016 | John James & Associates | Reader’s Digest Building | Waterloo Street, Surry Hills | New South Wales | 1967 | 49 years | NSW Enduring Architecture Award, 2016 |
| 2015 | Howlett & Bailey Architects | Council House | 27–29 St Georges Terrace, Perth | Western Australia | 1963 | 52 years | Richard Roach Jewell Award for Enduring Architecture, 2015 (WA) |
| 2014 | Ian McKay and Philip Cox Architects in Association | Tocal College (CB Alexander Campus) | 815 Tocal Road, Paterson | New South Wales | 1963 | 51 years | NSW Enduring Architecture Award, 2014 |
| 2013 | Mitchell Giurgola and Thorp | Australian Parliament House | Canberra | ACT | 1988 | 25 years | Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture, 2013 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1989 Canberra Medallion for Architectural Excellence, 1989 |
| 2012 | Harry Seidler | Australia Square | 264 George Street, Sydney | New South Wales | 1967 | 45 years | NSW Award Enduring Architecture Award, 2012 Sir John Sulman Medal, 1968 RAIA Civic Design Award for a work of outstanding environmental design, 1968 |
| 2011 | Glenn Murcutt | Magney House | Bingie Point | New South Wales | 1980 | 31 years | NSW Enduring Architecture Award, 2011 Robin Boyd Award, 1985 Wilkinson Award, 1985 |
| 2010 | Department of Public Works (Architect Peter Partridge) | Supreme Court Complex | Salamanca Place, Hobart | Tasmania | 1975 | 35 years | Tasmania Award for Enduring Architecture, 2010 |
| 2009 | Yuncken Freeman Brothers, Griffiths & Simpson; Gregory Burgess | Sidney Myer Music Bowl | Kings Domain, Melbourne | Victoria | 1959 | 50 years | Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award, 2009 Melbourne Prize, 2002 |
| 2008 | Vivian Fraser in Association with NSW Government Architect | Wharf Theatre | Walsh Bay | New South Wales | 1984 | 24 years | NSW Enduring Architecture Award, 2008' President's Award for Recycled Buildings, 1985 (National Awards) |
| 2007 | Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs | High Court of Australia Building | Parkes Place, Parkes | ACT | 1980 | 27 years | Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture, 2007 |
| 2006 | Grounds, Romberg & Boyd | Robin Boyd House II (Walsh Street House) | 290 Walsh Street, South Yarra | Victoria | 1958 | 48 years | Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award, 2006 |
| 2005 | Yuncken Freeman | BHP House | 140 William Street, Melbourne | Victoria | 1972 | 32 years | Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award, 2005 Award of Merit, 1973 Bronze Medal, 1975 |
| 2004 | Glenn Murcutt | Kempsey Farmhouse | Kempsey | New South Wales | 1974 | 30 years | NSW Enduring Architecture Award, 2020 |
| 2003 | Jørn Utzon | Sydney Opera House including (Stage 2, Hall Todd & Littlemore | Sydney | New South Wales | 1973 | 30 years | NSW Enduring Architecture Award, 2003 NSW Enduring Architecture Award, 2006 (Stage 2) |

## Distribution and location of awards

The average age of recognition of 22 projects awarded (2003—2024) is around 40.5 years since completion of construction or opening.
Projects located in New South Wales have dominated the Award, with 10 of the 22 awarded projects located there, five in Victoria, two each in Canberra (Australian Capital Territory) and Queensland, and one each in Tasmania, Western Australian and Northern Territory. No projects from South Australia have been nationally recognised.
* New South Wales (45.5%)
* Victoria (22.7%)
* Queensland (9.1%)
* Tasmania (4.5%)
* Western Australia (4.5%)
* Northern Territory (4.5%)
* South Australia (0%)
* Australian Capital Territory (9.1%)