# Canberra Medallion

The Canberra Medallion is an annual architecture award presented by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects. It is regarded as the highest award at the annual ACT architecture awards.

## Background

Established in 1956, the Canberra Medallion is one of the oldest architecture awards in Australia. Only the Victorian Architecture Medal/Street Architecture Medal (1929) and the NSW Sir John Sulman Medal (1932) are older state based awards for architecture.

### Early awards and name change

Initially the award was known as the Award for Meritorious Architecture by the Canberra Area Committee of the RAIA. In 1962 when the ACT Chapter was established the award was renamed and a bronze medallion to 'equal the prestige of the Sulman Medal' was added. The medallion is named for Australia's capital city, Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory, although most winning projects are located in the city not all winners are located in Canberra.

### Bronze medallion design

The medallion was designed by Peter Swalling in 1968 and first presented to the 1968 Canberra Medallion winning project, the Norwood Park Crematorium.

## Canberra Medallion winners since 2000

ACT Chapter Canberra Medallion winners since 2000 (reverse order) :
| Year | Architect | Project | Location | State | Type | Other AIA awards |
| 2024 | Joanna Nelson Architect | House on a Path | Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | Gene Willsford Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), 2024 (ACT) |
| 2023 | Bates Smart | Brindabella | 6 Brindabella Circuit, Canberra Airport | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | John Andrews Award for Commercial Architecture, 2023 (ACT) |
| 2022 | Hassell | Birch Building Refurbishment | Australian National University, 35 Science Road, Acton, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Education | National Award for Heritage, 2022 National Award for Educational Architecture, 2022 National Commendation for Interior Architecture, 2022 Enrico Taglietti Award for Educational Architecture, 2022 (ACT) W Hayward Morris Award for Interior Architecture, 2022 (ACT) J S Murdoch Award for Heritage, 2022 (ACT) |
| 2021 | Anthony Knobel | House for Hiroko | Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | Malcolm Moir and Heather Sutherland Award for Residential Architecture, Houses (New), 2021 (ACT) |
| 2020 | Edition Office and Daniel Boyd | For Our Country | Australian War Memorial, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | War Memorial | Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture, 2020 |
| 2019 | Austin Maynard Architects | Empire | Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | Gene Willsford Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), 2019 (ACT) National Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), 2019 |
| 2018 | Hassell | Australian Federal Police Forensics and Data Centre, Majura | 1 Tambreet Street, Majura | Australian Capital Territory | Government | National Commendation for Commercial Architecture, 2018 |
| 2017 | National Capital Authority, Jane Irwin, Hill Thalis, SMEC and AECOM | Constitution Avenue Streetscape | Constitution Avenue, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Urban Design | Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2017 (ACT) |
| 2016 | lahznimmo | Bowen Place Crossing | Bowen Place & Kings Avenue, Parkes, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Urban Design | Walter Burley Griffin Award, 2016 (National) Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2016 (ACT) |
| 2015 | Fender Katsalidis | New Acton Precinct | Acton, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Mixed Use | Walter Burley Griffin Award, 2015 (National) Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2015 (ACT) Award for Sustainable Architecture, 2015 (ACT) Award for Interior Architecture, 2015 (ACT) |
| 2014 | Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Taylor Cullity Lethlean | National Arboretum | Forest Drive, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Cultural | Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2014 |
| 2013 | Fender Katsalidis | 2 & 4 National Circuit | 2 & 4 National Circuit, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2013 |
| 2012 | Collins Caddaye | St Gregory's Hall | St. Gregory's Primary School (MacQuoid Street Campus), Molonglo Street, Queanbeyan | Australian Capital Territory | Education | Romaldo Giurgola Award for Public Architecture, 2012 |
| 2011 | Johnson Pilton Walker | Australian War Memorial Eastern Precinct | Australian War Memorial, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | War Memorial | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2011 (National) Romaldo Giurgola Award for Public Architecture, 2011 (ACT) |
| 2010 | Nino Bellantonio, AIL Studio & Joanna Nelson | H House | O’Connor | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | Small Project Award, 2010 (ACT) |
| 2009 | Johnson Pilton Walker | National Portrait Gallery | King Edward Terrace, Parkes, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Cultural | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2009 (National) Architecture Award for Interior Architecture, 2009 (National) Romaldo Giurgola Award for Public Architecture, 2009 (ACT) Light in Architecture Prize, 2009 (ACT) |
| 2008 | Fender Katsalidis | New Acton East | Corner of Marcus Clarke Street & Edinburgh Avenue, Acton, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Mixed Use/Commercial | National Award for Commercial Architecture, 2008 |
| 2007 | Cox Humphries Moss | Australian Institute of Sport Aquatic Testing and Training Centre | 26 Leverrier Street, Bruce, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Sport | Award for Public Architecture, 2007 (ACT) |
| 2007 | Bligh Voller Nield | ANU Medical School | Canberra Hospital, Garran | Australian Capital Territory | Health | |
| 2006 | Roger Pegrum | Reid House | 19 Euree Street, Reid, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | |
| 2005 | Denton Corker Marshall | ANZAC Hall | Australian War Memorial, Campbell, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | War Memorial | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2005 |
| 2004 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 2003 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 2002 | Cox Humphries Moss (Rodney Moss) | Clynes House (Catherine & Robert Clynes) | Yarralumla, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | |
| 2002 | Woods Bagot | Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS House) | 45 Benjamin Way, Belconnen | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | |
| 2001 | Mitchell Giurgola & Thorp | Australian War Memorial Gallery Redevelopment | Australian War Memorial, Campbell Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | War Memorial | |
| 2000 | Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn | CSIRO Discovery Centre | North Science Road, Acton, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | |
| 2000 | Dawson Brown Architecture | Sastrugi Lodge (redevelopment of 1958 lodge by Eric Nicholls) | 12 Diggings Terace, Thredbo | New South Wales | Residential | |

## Canberra Medallion winners 1956—1999

ACT Chapter Canberra Medallion winners from 1956 to 1999 (reverse order) :
| Year | Architect | Project | Location | State | Type | Other AIA awards |
| 1999 | Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp | Blake Dawson Waldron Fit-out | 12 Moore Street, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | |
| 1999 | Townsend & Associates | Fowler House | 288 Duffy Street, Ainslie | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | |
| 1999 | Simon Kringas | Jenkins Farmhouse | | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | |
| 1999 | Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn | Capital Jet Facility | Boomerang Street, Canberra Airport, Pialligo | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | |
| 1998 | Munns Sly Scott–Bohanna Moss | Hyson Green, Calvary Hospital | Mary Potter Circuit, Bruce | Australian Capital Territory | Health | |
| 1997 | Graeme Trickett | Robert Morrison House (Alterations & Additions) | 52 Beauchamp Street, Deakin | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | |
| 1997 | Eggleston Macdonald | Australian Geographical Survey Organisation HQ | Symonston | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | |
| 1997 | Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn | AIS Ansett Sports Visitor Centre | Leverriar Crescent, Bruce | Australian Capital Territory | Sport | |
| 1997 | MCC Architects (consortium of Munns Sly Scott–Bohanna Moss, Collins Caddaye Humphries and Colin Stewart) | ACT Magistrates Court | London Circuit, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Justice | |
| 1996 | Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp | ACT Legislative Assembly | Civic Square, Canberra | Australian Capital Territory | Government | |
| 1996 | Freeman Collett & Partners | My Cafe | Franklin Street, Manuka | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | |
| 1996 | Shane Blue & Rachel Bourne | House at Fadden Hills | 10 Decker Place, Fadden | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | |
| 1995 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1994 | Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp | Ainslie Fire Station | Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie | Australian Capital Territory | Public | |
| 1994 | Australian Construction Services | Therapeutic Goods Administration Building | Narrabundah Lane, Symonston | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | |
| 1994 | Clarke & Jackson | Ainslie Village Redevelopment | Quick Street, Ainslie | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | |
| 1993 | Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn | Boiler House Lecture Theatre | University of Canberra, Bruce | Australian Capital Territory | Education | |
| 1992 | Mitchell\Giurgola & Thorp | Faculty of Information Sciences & Engineering Building | University of Canberra, Bruce | Australian Capital Territory | Education | |
| 1991 | Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn | AIS Athletics Field Grandstand | Australian Institute of Sport, Masterman Street, Bruce | Australian Capital Territory | Sport | |
| 1990 | Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp | St Thomas Aquinas Parish Church | Lhotsky Street, Charnwood | Australian Capital Territory | Religion | Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture, 2018 |
| 1989 | Lawrence Nield & Partners | National Science & Technology Centre (now Questacon) | King Edward Terrace, Parkes | Australian Capital Territory | Cultural | |
| 1988 | Mitchell\Giurgola & Thorp | Australian Parliament House | Parliament Drive, Capital Hill | Australian Capital Territory | Cultural | National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2013 Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture, 2013 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1989 |
| 1988 | Ken Maher & Partners | Psychiatric Hostel | Mary Potter Circuit, Bruce | Australian Capital Territory | Health | |
| 1987 | Daryl Jackson | Indoor Sports Centre | Australian Defence Force Academy, Fairbairn Ave, Campbell | Australian Capital Territory | Sport | |
| 1986 | Department of Housing & Construction (ACT) with Ancher Mortlock & Woolley | Cadets Mess | Australian Defence Force Academy, Fairbairn Avenue, Campbell | Australian Capital Territory | Defence | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1986 |
| 1985 | Daryl Jackson | Singapore High Commission Chancery | Forster Crescent, Yarralumla | Australian Capital Territory | Government | |
| 1984 | Daryl Jackson | National Sports Centre Swimming Halls | Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Crescent, Bruce | Australian Capital Territory | Recreation | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1984 RAIA National Award for Design Excellence |
| 1984 | Peter Freeman | Hill Station Addition | 51 Sheppard Street, Hume | Australian Capital Territory | Heritage | Shortlisted for Lachlan Macquarie Award, 1984 (National) |
| 1983 | Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo and Briggs | Australian National Gallery | Parkes | Australian Capital Territory | Cultural | |
| 1982 | Robin Gibson | Belconnen Library | Chandler Street, Belconnen | Australian Capital Territory | Cultural | CS Daley Medal (ACT) |
| 1981 | Daryl Jackson Evan Walker Architects | Canberra School of Art | Australian National University, Acton | Australian Capital Territory | Education | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1981 (National) CS Daley Medal (ACT) |
| 1980 | Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo & Briggs | High Court of Australia Building | Parkes Place, Parkes | Australian Capital Territory | Justice | National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2007 Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture, 2007 |
| 1979 | Department of Housing & Construction (Michael Adams) | Taylor Primary School | Marconi Crescent, Kambah | Australian Capital Territory | Education | |
| 1978 | Philip Cox & Partners | Kambah Health Centre | Jenke Circuit, Kambah | Australian Capital Territory | Health | |
| 1977 | Enrico Taglietti | Giralang Primary School | Atalumba Close, Giralang | Australian Capital Territory | Education | |
| 1976 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1975 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1974 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1973 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1972 | Hancock, Renfree & Associates | Grandstand Amenities Pavilion | Randwick Road, Mitchell | Australian Capital Territory | Sport | |
| 1971 | Collard, Clark & Jackson | Building No. 14 | Russell Defence Group, Russell | Australian Capital Territory | Defence | |
| 1970 | Ian Mackay & Partners | Food Services Building | Bowes Street, Phillip | Australian Capital Territory | Commercial | |
| 1969 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1968 | Rosman, Hastings & Sorel (Peter Sorel) | Norwood Park Crematorium | 65 Sandford Street, Mitchell | Australian Capital Territory | Cultural | |
| 1967 | Fowell, Mansfield, Jarvis & Maclurcan | Commonwealth Club | 25 Forster Crescent, Yarralumla | Australian Capital Territory | Cultural | |
| 1966 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1965 | Allen, Jack and Cottier (Russell Jack) | Cater House | 145 Mugga Way, Red Hill | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | Meritorious Architecture Award, 1965 |
| 1964 | Mockridge, Stahle & Mitchell | Downer Primary School (1962–1988) | Bradfield Street, Downer | Australian Capital Territory | Education | (demolished 2014) |
| 1963 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1962 | McConnel, Smith and Johnson (Peter Keys) | Mackie House | 41 National Circuit, Forrest | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | |
| 1961 | Roy Grounds of Grounds, Romberg & Boyd | Australian Academy of Science (The Shine Dome) | Gordon Street, Acton | Australian Capital Territory | Government | Sir John Sulman Medal, 1959 Meritorious Architecture Award, ACT, 1959 25 Year Award, 2001 |
| 1960 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1959 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1958 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1957 | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD | NO AWARD |
| 1956 | Robin Boyd | Fenner House | 8 Monaro Crescent & 1 Torres Street, Red Hill | Australian Capital Territory | Residential | Meritorious Architecture Award, ACT, 1956 |
Note: Prior to 1962 the Canberra Medallion was known as the ACT Meritorious Architecture Award.