A child care preschool, primary, secondary or tertiary educational facility and/or joint research facility in which an educational institution is the major partner.
All projects and architectural firms located within Australia are eligible. Outside of these preliminary requirements, the qualities and characteristics of nominations under the commercial building category include: an original approach to addressing issues of sustainability through design and integrated technology. The building will demonstrate both immediate and ongoing functionality and performance in the context of sustainability within the office environment. Improved outcomes for both the environment and the building’s users / inhabitants will be proven. The design will align with – or improve upon – established best practice sustainability principles from design (e.g. material sourcing) through built outcomes (e.g. data that supports ongoing performance). The building will also specifically respond to its immediate locality and the uses of the building as contained in the client brief.
Key considerations: brief, originality, immediate functionality and ongoing performance, sustainable materials and technologies, relevance to context, high levels of research, longevity of both building and sustainable outcomes.
A renovation or fitout of the interior of an existing building.
All projects and architectural firms located within Australia are eligible. Outside of these preliminary requirements, the qualities and characteristics of nominations under the interior architecture category include: a distinct improvement to the existing building’s performance, relevant to both client usability and sustainability outcomes. The renovation or fitout will demonstrate an original approach to tackling challenges posed by the existing building, as expressed through design, materials and technology. The design will make a notable difference to the building’s impact on both inhabitants and the environment. A high-level of research will be demonstrable with regards to both the function of the existing site and the technology, materials and other aspects used to improve upon the original design. Improvements to both usability and sustainability elements will demonstrate a long-term approach to the problems at hand, and the building’s enhanced performance will be supported by data.
Key considerations: brief, knowledge of existing site and associated challenges, high levels of research, originality, demonstrated improvement to building performance, enhanced user outcomes, sustainable materials and technologies.
The design and construction of a single-residential building to which a Class 1a Building category is applicable.
All projects and architectural firms located within Australia are eligible. Outside of these preliminary requirements, the qualities and characteristics of nominations under the new single dwelling category include: a design that demonstrates a balance between dual considerations of usability (as outlined in the client brief) and ongoing sustainability outcomes. The design will be original both in its response to the client brief and in the way it tackles issues of sustainability as related to single dwelling homes. The design will represent a holistic and innovative approach to achieving best practice sustainability outcomes: from material sourcing to implementation and the building’s ongoing maintenance. The design will enhance levels of livability, and make sustainability approachable and easy to maintain within a residential context. A high level of research into materials and technologies will have been used, and sustainability outcomes will be supported by data.
Key considerations: response to client brief, originality and creativity in tackling challenges, high levels of livability, long-lived and easily maintainable solutions, relevance to context, high levels of research.
The design of a new townhouse, duplex or residential complex that contains multiple residential dwellings. Projects nominated under this category will be classifiable as Class 2 buildings.
All projects and architectural firms located within Australia are eligible. Outside of these preliminary requirements, the qualities and characteristics of nominations under the multiple dwelling category include: the design will demonstrate sustainable functionality and performance while servicing the needs of multiple residents. The design will align itself with or expand upon best practice sustainability principles, and demonstrate innovation in the way it approaches sustainable living, building and design. Ideally, the building will suggest a new direction in sustainability for our future cities by solving common sustainability challenges faced by industry and the broader public in the context of multi-res. Ergonomic issues and specific user needs will be resolved in an original, empathetic, and long-term manner. Sustainability and user outcomes will be supported by data.
Key considerations: originality and innovation, livability, functionality and performance, high levels of research, longevity, breadth of approach.
A project designed and built primarily for any commercial purpose (including retail, hospitality, offices, sport & lifestyle).
All projects and design firms located within Australia are eligible to enter. Outside of these preliminary requirements, the qualities and characteristics of nominations under the commercial building category include: form, technology, material used and big picture thinking. The design will represent an example of functional sustainability in a commercial context, while also being responsive to its physical locality. The design will adhere to or expand upon best practice sustainability outcomes while ensuring that an optimum work environment has been achieved. Ideally, it will demonstrate a new direction or a new model for sustainable design in a commercial context.
Key considerations: innovation, functionality, expertise, measurable sustainable qualities in the medium- to long-term.
A hospital, medical facility, clinic, dental surgery, aged care centre or rehabilitation facility.
Category Criteria
All projects and design firms located within Australia are eligible to enter. Outside of these preliminary requirements, the qualities and characteristics of nominations under the healthcare category include: form, technology, material used and big picture thinking. The design will represent an example of functional sustainability in a healthcare context, while also being responsive to its physical locality. The design will adhere to or expand upon best practice sustainability outcomes while ensuring that an optimum work environment has been achieved. Ideally, it will demonstrate a new direction or a new model for sustainable design in a commercial context. The design will also align with – or improve upon – established best practice sustainability principles from design (e.g. material sourcing) through built outcomes (e.g. data that supports ongoing performance).
Key considerations: innovation, functionality, expertise, measurable sustainable qualities in the medium – to long-term.
Extensions of Class 1a building or alterations to at least 50 percent of a Class 1a building.
All projects and design firms located within Australia are eligible to enter. Outside of these preliminary requirements, the qualities and characteristics of nominations under the single dwelling (alteration or addition) category include: a design that demonstrates a balance between dual considerations of usability (as outlined in the client brief) and ongoing sustainability outcomes. The design will be original both in its response to the client brief and in the way it tackles issues of sustainability as related to single dwelling homes. The design will represent a holistic and innovative approach to achieving best practice sustainability outcomes: from material sourcing to implementation and the building’s ongoing maintenance. The design will enhance levels of livability, and make sustainability approachable and easy to maintain within a residential context. A demonstrable improvement to previous sustainability outcomes will be supported by data related to building performance.
Key considerations: innovation and originality, response to client brief, high levels of livability, long-lived and easily maintainable solutions, relevance to context, high levels of research, holistic view of sustainability measurements.
Buildings or non-building projects at the intersection of architecture, landscape design and urban planning. Examples include parks, pedestrian bridges and walkways, pools, shelters, picnic facilities, toilet blocks and children playgrounds. Can also include green roofs, green walls and other urban garden and similar type installations.
All projects and design firms located within Australia are eligible to enter. Projects submitted under the landscape and urban design category will demonstrate a long-term approach to tackling issues – with a particularly focus on the site’s ongoing use of resources for maintenance – and an innovative way of approaching existing challenges. Ergonomic issues and specific user or contextual needs will be resolved in a highly innovative and empathetic way. A demonstrable improvement to previous sustainability outcomes will need to be supported by data related to building performance.
Key considerations: innovation, longevity, a holistic approach to sustainable (as demonstrated through materials etc.), relevance to context, empathetic to user considerations, high levels of research into use of resources, translatable concepts.
A new service, resource, process or application that helps advance progress in the sustainable built environment.
All projects and firms must be located in Australia, while all products designed in Australia or overseas are eligible to enter. Outside of these preliminary requirements, the qualities and characteristics of nominations under the innovation or application category include: an original service, idea, resource, process or application that tackles sustainability issues in a new or innovative way. The innovation or application will demonstrate a highly-researched and unique solution to a specific, sustainability-related problem (or several problems). The innovation or application will make a difference to the way industry or the broader public approach the issue(s) at hand. It will also demonstrate a high level of usability and functionality, capable of being applied across a broad spectrum of contexts and by individuals and/or firms with a range of skill and knowledge levels. The impact of the innovation or application will be long-lived, and its ongoing performance will be supported by relevant data.
Key considerations: originality and authenticity, innovation, usability, longevity, breadth of application, functionality and performance.
Any building within Australia that uses either smart design, smart materials or a range of automated processes to automatically control the building’s operations including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, security and other systems. This infrastructure helps owners, operators and facility managers improve asset reliability and performance, which reduces energy use and minimises the environmental impact of building.
All projects and design firms located within Australia are eligible to enter. Outside of these preliminary requirements, the qualities and characteristics of nominations under Smart Building category include: the design will provide a model for solving a range of current sustainable issues faced by our city, while providing a functional and serviceable public amenity. Projects submitted under the Smart Building category will demonstrate a long-term approach to building automation – with a particularly focus on innovative ways of approaching existing building automation challenges and their impact on sustainability. A demonstrable improvement to previous sustainability outcomes will need to be supported by data related to building performance.
Key considerations: use of sustainable /green building materials, longevity, a holistic approach to sustainable (as demonstrated through materials etc.), relevance to context, empathetic to user considerations, high levels of research into use of resources, translatable concepts
Any building within Australia that can be proven to have lowered its environmental footprint via design, materials or technological enhancements. The proof will be presented in the form of 12-months measurable data for example in the form of utility bills or other similar type of quantifiable third-party data that can be easily verified.
All projects and design firms located within Australia are eligible to enter. Outside of these preliminary requirements, the qualities and characteristics of nominations under Green Building category include: the design will provide a model for solving a range of current sustainable issues faced by our city, while providing a functional and serviceable public amenity. Projects submitted under the Green Building category will demonstrate a long-term approach to tackling sustainability and environmental issues – with a particular focus on the site’s ongoing use of resources for maintenance – and an innovative way of approaching existing challenges. A demonstrable improvement to previous sustainability outcomes will need to be supported by data related to building performance.
Key considerations: use of sustainable /green building materials, longevity, a holistic approach to sustainable (as demonstrated through materials etc.), relevance to context, empathetic to user considerations, high levels of research into use of resources, translatable concepts